A detailed view of the Netflix Christmas Day Game Day logo between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers during an NFL regular season football game at Acrisure Stadium on December 25, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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Christmas comes on time NetflixAccording to Nielsen, the anchor set a record for the most live NFL games ever broadcast in the United States.
On Christmas Day, nearly 65 million people in the United States watched two NFL games, with Netflix having the exclusive broadcast rights. The Baltimore Ravens’ win over the Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million viewers, while the Kansas City Chiefs’ win over the Pittsburgh Steelers averaged 24.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen.
U.S. attendance at the Ravens-Texans game peaked during Beyoncé’s halftime show, with more than 27 million viewers watching the star-studded performance.
“Bringing our members a record-breaking two NFL games on this day is the best Christmas we can give our members,” Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria said in a press release. Gift. “We’re grateful for our partnership with the NFL and all of our amazing on-air talent, not forgetting the exciting Beyoncé and the talented Mariah Carey. “
Wednesday’s game is the first in a three-year deal between the NFL and Netflix to air a Christmas Day game exclusively on the streaming giant.
The NFL isn’t the only sports league feeling the Christmas cheer. The NBA, which usually dominates the Christmas sports schedule, had its highest Christmas Day viewership in five years, averaging 5.25 million viewers per game in the U.S. across the five games, according to Nielsen.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ win over the Golden State Warriors was the most-watched NBA regular season and Christmas game in five years, averaging 7.76 million viewers and peaking at 8.32 million. The first game of the day, in which the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs, averaged 4.91 million viewers, making it the most-watched Christmas Day opener in 13 years.
All told, ratings for the five games were up 84% compared to Christmas 2023. disney Cable and streaming platforms ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, Disney+ and ESPN+.
The strong ratings are a welcome sign for the NBA, which has seen ratings decline this year.
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