In this article, Christmas brought good news for Netflix, setting records for the most streamed NFL games ever in the U.S., according to Nielsen. Nearly 65 million viewers across the U.S. watched the two NFL matchups on Christmas Day, exclusively shown by Netflix. The Baltimore Ravens’ victory over the Houston Texans had an average of 24.3 million viewers, while the Kansas City Chiefs’ win against the Pittsburgh Steelers averaged 24.1 million viewers, as reported by Nielsen.
During the Ravens versus Texans game, the U.S. audience peaked during Beyoncé’s halftime show, with over 27 million viewers enjoying the star-studded performance. Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria expressed gratitude for the record-breaking day, stating, “Bringing our members this record-breaking day of two NFL games was the best Christmas gift we could have delivered.” Bajaria also acknowledged the partnership with the NFL, the on-air talent, and highlighted the performances of Beyoncé and Mariah Carey.
These games marked the beginning of a three-year deal between the NFL and Netflix to exclusively broadcast Christmas matchups on the streaming platform. Apart from the NFL, the NBA also experienced a festive boost, achieving its most-watched Christmas Day in five years, with an average of 5.25 million viewers per game across five games in the U.S., according to Nielsen.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ victory over the Golden State Warriors became the most-watched NBA regular season and Christmas Day game in five years, with an average of 7.76 million viewers and a peak of 8.32 million viewers. The first game of the day, the New York Knicks’ win over the San Antonio Spurs, had an average of 4.91 million viewers, making it the most watched Christmas Day opener in 13 years.
Overall, viewership across the five NBA games increased by 84% compared to Christmas in 2023. The games were broadcast on Disney’s cable and streaming platforms ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, Disney+, and ESPN+. These strong ratings were a positive sign for the NBA, which has been facing challenges with lower viewership this year.
