Netflix loves taking niche interests and forcing them down peopleâs throats until they become popular.
Just take foreign language film and TV.
People living in the U.S. or U.K. used to feel superior when they told their friends about this cool new Korean drama. Thanks to Netflix shows like Squid Game, watching foreign-language media is no longer something you can brag about.
Another example of this âNetflix effectâ is the incredible resurgence of Formula 1, that sport where they go round in circles shouting âVrooom!â
Less than 10 years ago, Formula 1 was a dinosaur. The company didnât even have a marketing department and the championshipâs owner was so out of touch, we are pretty sure he still thought women couldnât vote.
When Liberty Media took over the brand they instigated sweeping changes that looked to bring the sport into the modern age. Teams could now post content during a race week and Netflix was invited to film a behind-the-scenes documentary.
This doc, known as Drive to Survive, was an overnight success. In 2020 alone, the series is credited with helping F1 register around 73 million new fans in Brazil, China, and the U.S.
The Netflix effect has been pretty noticeable in North America.
In the words of Mclaren CEO Zak Brown:
âI think itâs got to be the single most important impact for Formula 1 in North America (âŚ) People are going from âIâve never watched a Formula 1 race in my lifeâ to âIâll never miss a Formula 1 race again.â
You just have to see the incredible crowds at the 2021 Austin Grand Prix to understand the love that the U.S. now holds for Formula 1.
Despite this success, Drive to Survive has split fan opinion. Many credit it with re-igniting their passion for motorsport, while others fear that the show leans too heavily on drama to paint an inaccurate story.
One theory is that the new fans that are drawn to the sports by DTS will be expecting drama, this could encourage the organizers to mess with the competitive nature of the event to manufacture dramaâŚAbu Dhabi anyone?
You can accuse DTS of ruining the sport all you want, but the fact remains that Formula 1 would not be in its current position without the documentary.
Season 4 of DTS drops today on Netflix and reviews for its latest iteration are mixed. Some argue that the series remains incredibly entertaining and informative, while others have accused the editors of âNetflixifying reality',â by placing radio messages over unrelated footage.
Fan opinion split againâŚwhy are we even surprised?
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The Netflix effect is helping Formula Oneâs marketability and increasing that sweet sponsorship revenueâŚand attracting some more trustworthy partners than some of the weird deals from the past.
A Nigerian Prince, fake energy drinks and even the Bin Laden family. F1 has had some very weird sponsorships. We looked into the economics of F1, controversial partnerships, and the sportâs addiction to tobacco in our recent video.Â
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AFC Richmond is Officially a Nike Team!
For those who donât know, Ted Lasso is the story of a foreign coach coming to a Premier League club and instantly losing everyoneâs respect because he doesnât seem to know how to be a football managerâŚJust think Ralf Rangnick at Manchester United!
The big difference between the TV show Ted Lasso and the real-life club Manchester United is that almost every member of the cast, including the titular character Ted, are incredibly optimistic and loveable individuals.
It is, therefore, no surprise that the Apple TV series has been incredibly successful. The show has won trillions of awards and turned its cast into worldwide celebrities (Keeley would be proud.) With millions of views across two highly acclaimed seasons, Ted and pals are also credited with turning Apple TV + into a serious contender in the streaming space.
Ted Lasso has also helped raise the profile of football with American audiences. One exampleâŚthe showâs fictional football team AFC Richmond now has more followers on Twitter than a lot of real football clubs.
Ted Lasso is one of the hottest brands in world football and companies are starting to take notice.
Just recently, the Premier League reached a $680,000 licensing agreement with the show that allows the writers to use the leagueâs emblems and footage in the third season.
Then came the big oneâŚNike has just announced that they are replacing the fictional Verani Sports as the kit supplier for AFC Richmond.
This means that your favourite fictional footballers will now be running around in genuine Nike kit.
We just hope that they start selling some real AFC Richmond match shirts!
We desperately need it for IndyCar. But, NASCAR has âAustin Dillonâs Life In The Fast Laneâ on USA Network, featuring Richard Childress' grandson Austin Dillon; and also âRace For The Championship.â
Source:
https://www.usanetwork.com/usa-insider/nascar-austin-dillon-life-fast-lane-reality-series-premiere-new-shows-usa
Our community could use some of that Netflix fringe sports magic