NFL doubleheader on Christmas Day sets streaming viewership records
CBSDEC 2024
NFL Christmas Day Games on Netflix Break Streaming Records
Above: Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks with a Netflix reporter after the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Image copyright: Joe Sargent/Stringer/Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Despite the NBA being a reliable Christmas Day fixture in American households, the NFL successfully established Christmas as a new tentpole event alongside Thanksgiving and Kickoff Weekend. The streaming numbers highlight the league's ability to draw massive audiences on any platform.
Narrative B
Basketball remains the traditional Christmas Day sport, with the NBA achieving its best holiday viewership in five years despite direct competition from football and the competing Netflix broadcasts. This proves that there's room for both leagues to thrive.