Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce talking after an NFL game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
LeBron James and the NBA now share Christmas Day with the NFL, and both leagues emerged as winners this year.
Netflix shattered records by hosting the most-streamed NFL games in U.S. history, while the NBA celebrated its best Christmas Day viewership in five years, according to Nielsen.
NFL’s Historic Viewership
The NFL reported 65 million U.S. viewers tuned in for at least one minute of its two Christmas Day games. The Baltimore Ravens’ dominant 31-2 victory over the Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million viewers, while the Kansas City Chiefs’ 29-10 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers drew 24.1 million viewers.
These numbers surpassed the previous streaming record of 23 million viewers for last year’s AFC Wild Card game between the Miami Dolphins and Chiefs.
The Ravens-Texans game drew additional attention with the “Beyoncé Bowl” halftime performance, which peaked at 27 million viewers during its 13-minute set.
Viewership figures included audiences on Netflix, NFL+, and local CBS stations in Baltimore, Houston, Pittsburgh, and Kansas City. Global ratings and final U.S. numbers are expected on Tuesday, with projections suggesting each game could surpass 30 million viewers once Netflix’s first-party data is released.
NBA Enjoys Christmas Success
While the NFL took center stage, the NBA delivered its own impressive results. Its five-game slate averaged 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC and ESPN platforms—a 5-year high.
The Lakers’ thrilling 115-113 win over the Warriors, featuring LeBron James and Stephen Curry, averaged 7.76 million viewers, peaking at 8.32 million late in the game. This marked the most-watched NBA regular-season game in five years.
Overall, NBA Christmas Day games saw an 84% increase in viewership compared to last year, partly due to all games airing on ABC, up from just two the previous year.
NFL Expands Its Christmas Tradition
Christmas Day, once dominated by the NBA, has become a marquee date for the NFL. With its regular season holidays already featuring Thanksgiving and Kickoff Weekend, the league has added Christmas to its calendar of high-profile events.
Hans Schroeder, NFL Media’s executive vice president, expressed satisfaction with the league’s three-year partnership with Netflix, saying, “The numbers speak for themselves and LeBron can have his own view, and I’m sure more people will look at that because of this,” he said. “But, you know, we’re focused on the NFL and we’re thrilled with the results this year with the Christmas on Netflix and we’re excited to continue to build that over the next couple of years.”
The NFL plans at least two Christmas Day games in 2025, with the possibility of three given that the holiday falls on a Thursday.
Streaming Trends Highlight Change
The shift from broadcast to streaming slightly lowered the NFL’s average Christmas Day viewership compared to last year’s 28.68 million for three games, led by the Raiders-Chiefs matchup. However, the drop was less steep than typically seen in such transitions.
Netflix also reported fewer streaming complaints this year. The main issue noted by viewers was a delay in accessing live action when joining mid-game.
Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer, praised the NFL partnership, the on-air talent, and Beyoncé’s halftime performance, calling it an “electrifying” moment.
The event dominated social media, with #NFLonNetflix trending globally. Beyoncé’s performance topped worldwide trends on X (formerly Twitter), and the hashtag trended prominently in countries like Australia, Germany, and Brazil.
NBA’s Streaming Future
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the league’s shifting viewership landscape, stating, “Ratings are down a bit at beginning of the season. But cable television viewership is down double digits so far this year versus last year,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month. “You know, we’re almost at the inflection point where people are watching more programing on streaming than they are on traditional television. And it’s a reason why for our new television deals, which we enter into next year, every game is going to be available on a streaming service.”
The NBA’s upcoming TV deals will emphasize streaming, increasing regular-season games on TV from 15 to 75. ABC and ESPN will also continue broadcasting Christmas Day games under their new 11-year agreement.
Conclusion
Christmas Day proved that there’s room for both the NFL and NBA. With record-breaking performances on both sides, the holiday continues to grow as a showcase for two of America’s favorite sports.
This report used information from The Associated Press.
