During the NFL's inaugural game in Australia, a Netflix announcer drew a mixed reaction for his pronunciation of the host city, Melbourne.
Noah Eagle, the play-by-play announcer, opted for the local Australian pronunciation of "Mel-bin" (often shortened to 'Melb'n') instead of the more common American phonetic "Mel-burn." This linguistic choice led to confusion and debate among viewers unfamiliar with the Australian accent.
"Love Noah Eagle but if he says 'Melbin' one more time, so help me God," wrote Jarrett Bailey of SB Nation on X, formerly Twitter. Another fan questioned the announcers' decision, stating, "Can these reporters for the NFL game stop saying 'Melbin' for where they are every other sentence? They aren't Australian. They don't have the accent. It sounds so dumb every time they say it. They're in Melbourne."
Even international observers noted the pronunciation. Irish NFL analyst Sam Monson commented, "Yeah, the over-the-top affectation of pronouncing Melbin is pretty grating. A simple MEL-burn would get you there as a neat halfway between Yankifying it and trying to be local."
A community note was eventually added to a clip of Eagle's commentary, clarifying, "Noah Eagle used the local Australian pronunciation of Melbourne ('Mel-bin' or 'Melb'n'), not a mispronunciation."
Despite the pronunciation controversy, Eagle and his broadcast partner, former NFL player Luke Kuechly, garnered significant praise for their commentary. Fans lauded their "chemistry, insight, humor" and professional dynamic.
The game itself, which saw the San Francisco 49ers defeat the Los Angeles Rams, marked a significant step in the NFL's international expansion. NFL
Netflix, which acquired the rights to broadcast NFL games in international markets, is scheduled to air additional matchups. The streaming service will feature another game on Thanksgiving eve, a matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Rams on November 25. Further broadcasts include two Christmas Day games and a Week 18 contest.
Eagle, the son of veteran announcer Ian Eagle, and Kuechly are expected to continue their collaboration on these upcoming Netflix broadcasts. Kuechly is also slated to announce a dozen games for the Panthers Radio Network during the current NFL season.