Detailed view of the Netflix Christmas Gameday sign during the NFL regular season football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers on December 25, 2024 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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Christmas came just in time Netflixas the streamer set records for the most-streamed NFL games ever in the United States, according to Nielsen.
Nearly 65 million people across the United States tuned in to the two NFL games on Christmas Day, which Netflix has exclusive rights to show. The Baltimore Ravens' victory over the Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million viewers, while the Kansas City Chiefs' victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers averaged 24.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen.
The US audience 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 show.
“Giving our members this record-setting day of two NFL games was the best Christmas gift we could have given,” Bela Bajaria, chief content officer at Netflix, said in a press release. “We are grateful for our partnership with the NFL, all of our amazing on-air talent, and let’s not forget the amazing Beyoncé and the amazing Mariah Carey.”
Wednesday's matches were the first in Three-year deal between the NFL and Netflix To show the Christmas matches exclusively on the live 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 five years, averaging 5.25 million viewers per game in the United States across five games throughout the day, according to Nielsen.
The Los Angeles Lakers' win 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 with 8.32 million viewers. The first game of the day, the New York Knicks' win over the San Antonio Spurs, averaged 4.91 million viewers, making it the most-watched Christmas Day opener in 13 years.
Overall, viewership was up 84% across the five matches compared to Christmas 2023. The matches were broadcast on Disney Cable and streaming platforms ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, Disney+ and ESPN+.
The strong ratings were a welcome sign for the NBA, which is… Suffering from low viewership this year.
