A detailed view of the Netflix Christmas Gameday signs during the Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers regular season NFL football game at Acrizier Stadium on December 25, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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Christmas came as planned NetflixAccording to Nielsen, the streamer has set a record for the most streamed NFL games in history in the United States.
About 65 million people nationwide watched two NFL games on Christmas Day, for which Netflix held exclusive broadcast rights. According to Nielsen, the game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million viewers, and the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers averaged 24.1 million viewers.
U.S. attendance for the Ravens vs. Texans game peaked during Beyoncé’s halftime show, with more than 27 million viewers tuning in to watch the star-studded performance.
“Bringing our members on this record-breaking day with two NFL games was the best Christmas gift we could give them,” Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer, said in a press release. ” said in a press release. “We’re grateful for our partnership with the NFL and the incredible talent on the air. Let’s not forget the inspiring Beyoncé and the brilliant Mariah Carey.”
Wednesday’s game was the first in a three-year deal between the NFL and Netflix to air a Christmas game exclusively on the streaming giant.
The NFL wasn’t the only sports league feeling the Christmas cheer. The NBA, which typically dominates the Christmas sports schedule, set a record for the most-watched Christmas Day in the past five years, averaging 5.25 million viewers per game across the country across five games throughout the day, according to Nielsen. It is said that it had a record number of viewers.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ victory over the Golden State Warriors was the most-watched NBA regular season and Christmas Day game in five years, averaging 7.76 million viewers and peaking at 832 viewers. There were 10,000 people. The first game of the day, the New York Knicks’ victory over the San Antonio Spurs, averaged 4.91 million viewers, making it the most-watched Christmas Day opener in 13 years.
Overall, viewership increased by 84% across the five games compared to Christmas 2023. The match was broadcast in the following manner: disney’s Cable and streaming platforms ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, Disney+, ESPN+.
The high ratings were a welcome sign for the NBA, which has struggled with ratings declines this year.
