A detailed view of the Netflix Christmas Gameday sign during the regular season NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 25, 2024, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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Christmas came just in time NetflixAccording to Nielsen, the streamer set a record for the most-streamed NFL games ever in the US.
Nearly 65 million viewers across the United States watched two NFL Christmas Day games, which Netflix had exclusive rights to show. According to Nielsen, the Baltimore Ravens' victory over the Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million viewers, and the Kansas City Chiefs' victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers averaged 24.1 million.
The highest viewership for the Ravens vs. Texans match in the US was achieved during Beyoncé's halftime performance – over 27 million viewers watched the stars' performance.
“Providing our members with this record-breaking day that featured two NFL games was the best holiday gift we could deliver,” Bela Bajaria, Netflix chief content officer, said in a press release. “We are grateful for our partnership with the NFL, for all our wonderful on-air talent and let's not forget the electrifying Beyoncé and the brilliant Mariah Carey.”
Wednesday's games were the first three-year contract between the NFL and Netflix to show the holiday matchups exclusively on the streaming platform.
The NFL wasn't the only sports league to get into the holiday spirit. According to Nielsen, the NBA – which typically dominates the Christmas sports schedule – set a record for the most-watched Christmas in five years, averaging 5.25 million viewers per game in the U.S. across five daytime games.
The Los Angeles Lakers' victory over the Golden State Warriors was the most-watched regular-season and Christmas Day NBA 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, a New York Knicks victory over the San Antonio Spurs, was watched by an average of 4.91 million viewers, making it the most watched Christmas Day opener in 13 years.
In total, viewership for the five matches increased by 84% compared to Christmas Day 2023. The matches were televised Disney cable and streaming platforms ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, Disney+ and ESPN+.
The high ratings were a welcome signal for the NBA is struggling with lower viewership this year.