Broadcaster Gary Lineker has signed a deal with Netflix, marking a significant shift in the streaming giant’s content strategy. The deal will see Netflix host Lineker’s podcast, ‘The rest is football’, during the 2022 World Cup. The move marks Netflix’s first major venture into football coverage and an expansion of its podcast portfolio, positioning it as a potential rival to YouTube.
Lineker, who was originally slated to lead World Cup coverage for the BBC, announced his early departure from the corporation in May after a row over anti-Semitism. The former England striker faced major backlash for sharing a social media post about Zionism that included a rat emoji, historically used as an anti-Semitic slur. Lineker has since apologized for the incident, stating that he did not see the image and would never knowingly post anything anti-Semitic.
‘The Rest is Football’, presented by Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, is one of the biggest audio shows in football streaming and currently publishes three episodes a week. However, it will be released daily on Netflix throughout the World Cup. Lineker expressed his excitement about the deal, stating that it was a “fantastic opportunity for us to do what we love: talking about football every day, but on a really global stage”.
Produced by Goalhanger, the show will feature game analysis, special guests, interviews and information on the world’s biggest sporting event. It will be filmed in a studio in New York, with reporters from the England camp and fan zones.
Goalhanger, co-founded by Lineker, also produces other podcasts in the “The Rest Is” series, which focus on topics such as politics, history, entertainment and money. A version of the show will continue to exist on audio platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts during the World Cup, according to Netflix.
As well as his Netflix venture, Lineker will host a new ITV game show, ‘The Box’, next year. The show will feature 10 celebrities transported to unexpected locations in giant yellow boxes, tasked with completing challenges once released.
Despite the controversy, ex Tottenham Hotspur Striker Lineker’s contribution to sports broadcasting has not gone unnoticed. In September, he was named Best TV Presenter at the National Television Awards, ending Ant and Dec’s 23-year winning streak.
Gary Lineker’s move to Netflix marks a new chapter in his broadcasting career and an important step for Netflix in expanding its content portfolio. As sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts look forward to the World Cup“The Rest Is Football” promises to provide engaging and insightful analysis of football on a global stage.
