Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s ambitions for Wrexham AFC know no bounds. They have turned the crumbling league into a global brand, going far beyond just being a successful football league. Of course, coming from a background in entertainment, the Hollywood duo is also doing everything they can to bring the league into the star-studded world of Hollywood. Part of their plan involves a second Netflix TV deal, after their Welcome To Wrexham, which they are reportedly eyeing for their Welsh team. But things are not exactly going their way.

There is one big problem standing in the way of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney landing that Netflix deal for Wrexham.

Football finance expert Dr. Rob Wilson, a professor at Sheffield Hallam University, recently explained why Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney cannot strike any big TV deals with Netflix— or any of the other major streaming services, for that matter. TV rights are now collectively bargained on behalf of the division and then distributed accordingly. Therefore, as Wilson said via Slingo, “Clubs are not allowed to go out and sign their own individual rights deals currently”.

What that means is that all the TV deals are worked out as a group by the league, and then the money gets split between all the clubs. So Wrexham, as much as they would love to strike a big, individual TV deal, has to play by the existing rules and rely on the deals already in place. Wilson pointed out that this system is to protect “competitive integrity,” making sure that all the teams, not just the biggest ones, get a fair share of the TV revenue. This is a huge blow for Reynolds and McElhenney, especially when they are dreaming big for the club.

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Reynolds and McElhenney are aiming to get Wrexham into the Premier League, which will take even more money and investment. But there is still some hope, even with the TV deal restrictions hanging over them.

A direct deal with a big streaming service like Netflix could be a major financial boost for Wrexham, which in turn could have helped the whole league push for a spot in the Premier League. Unfortunately, the current system makes that difficult. But all hope is not lost. Streaming services are becoming more and more involved in sports broadcasting. Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other platforms have already started broadcasting live sports, so there is, indeed, a chance thing could change in the future.

Some experts believe that down the line, clubs could have more control over their own media rights. But for now, the English Football League is sticking with the current system. That said, considering how much Wrexham’s revenue has shot up and how big companies are lining up to invest in the club, that Netflix deal might not be as much of a roadblock as it seems. 

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What do you think about EFL's TV deal restrictions for Wrexham and other leagues? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!