The NFL announced the Green Bay Packers will face the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on November 25, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET. The game will stream exclusively on Netflix, placing it behind a paywall for every fan who does not already subscribe.
Wisconsin’s senior U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin responded to it by introducing federal legislation targeting exactly that arrangement.
Green Bay Packers, Devonte Wyatt
Sep 11, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt (95) during the game against the Washington Commanders at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Netflix subscriptions range from $7 to $24 per month, depending on the plan. For Packers fans who want to watch their team on Thanksgiving Eve and do not subscribe to the platform, that means adding a new recurring expense to catch a single game. Baldwin’s office calculated that subscribing to all major NFL streaming platforms now costs Wisconsin families around $1,000 per year.
Baldwin framed the issue as consumer protection, not just a sports grievance. “As the cost of just about everything continues to rise, the NFL is once again asking Wisconsinites to spend their hard-earned money on another streaming service,” Baldwin said. “Enough is enough. My For the Fans Act would stop this exact scenario and prevent Wisconsin families from being forced to pay for Netflix just to watch the Packers play this Thanksgiving.”
Fan reactions were mixed. One user wrote: “Glad she’s focused on the important things.” Another commented: “Nice to see our elected officials zeroing in on the essential quality-of-life issues.” A third simply posted: “PRIORITIES.” A fourth asked: “Won’t Wisconsinites get the game on broadcast for free anyway?”
That final comment touches on a legitimate nuance. NFL rules require that any game airing within 75 miles of the home or away team’s market must also appear on a free local broadcast channel. Rams games in the Los Angeles market must air locally on a broadcast channel, meaning Los Angeles residents can watch for free, but Green Bay fans in Wisconsin would need Netflix.
The NFL signed a three-year deal with Netflix in 2023, giving the platform exclusive rights to at least one Christmas Day game per season. The 2025 Christmas Day games on Netflix drew a combined 65 million viewers, the largest audience in Netflix sports history. The league expanded the arrangement for 2026, adding Thanksgiving Eve as a second exclusive Netflix window, affecting this Packers-Rams matchup directly.
Baldwin first introduced the For the Fans Act in 2023 after the NFL moved several games to streaming platforms without free broadcast alternatives, and the bill would require any game originally scheduled for over-the-air broadcast to remain accessible on a free channel. The Packers have a rich Thanksgiving tradition. Their 2025 home game against the Detroit Lions drew 31.5 million viewers on Fox. Moving that tradition behind a paywall creates the access gap Baldwin’s bill is designed to address.
Tammy Baldwin’s For the Fans Act Targets NFL Streaming Exclusivity
Baldwin’s bill specifically targets exclusive streaming deals for games that would otherwise air on broadcast television, requiring the league to make any playoff or holiday game available on a free over-the-air channel.
The Packers’ significance on national holiday broadcasts makes the Netflix decision a particularly sharp flashpoint.Green Bay played on Thanksgiving 2025 against the Lions in a nationally televised game on Fox that drew significant attentionafter a late-game injury to defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, a reminder of how prominent the franchise’s Thanksgiving presence has become in the NFL’s calendar.
The For the Fans Act has not gained traction in Congress since its 2023 introduction, and two previous versions never advanced past the committee stage, while the NFL argues its broadcasting arrangements follow market forces. Netflix is not the only platform drawing Baldwin’s attention, as Amazon Prime Video holds exclusive Thursday Night Football rights, Peacock carries one playoff game per season, and Apple TV+ airs one international game per week. Combined, these deals lock a significant portion of the NFL’s annual schedule behind streaming subscriptions.
The NFL’s total broadcasting revenue for 2026 is projected at $12.1 billion, with streaming platforms accounting for roughly $2 billion of that total. Commissioner Roger Goodell said at the March owners’ meetings that the league has no current plans to limit exclusive streaming partnerships. NBC Sports confirmed that Baldwin’s office stated it will seek co-sponsors from other states with NFL franchises to build broader support for the legislation before the fall schedule begins.
The Packers-Rams game on November 25 tips off at 8 p.m. ET and is one of four Thanksgiving week NFL matchups in 2026. The other three games air on CBS, NBC, and ABC with free broadcast options. Whether Baldwin’s bill advances remains uncertain, but it has already put significant pressure on the NFL and Netflix ahead of the holiday season.