The primary NFL video games on Netflix introduced in large audiences for the streamer — and the largest ever for a streaming NFL matchup. However they got here up in need of the viewers for final yr’s Yuletide contests that ran on broadcast networks.
The NBA additionally loved a fruitful Christmas, with its five-game slate rising by a collective 84 p.c from a yr in the past.
Netflix’s two video games averaged 24.2 million viewers, in response to Nielsen quick nationwide scores (Nielsen is offering U.S. information for the video games, because the NFL likes viewers measurement to be uniform throughout all of its media companions). The early afternoon matchup between the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers posted 24.1 million viewers, and the Baltimore Ravens’ win over the Houston Texans got here in at 24.3 million (each figures embody over-the-air broadcasts within the groups’ native markets). The Netflix viewers peaked at 27 million viewers throughout Beyoncé’s halftime efficiency on the Ravens-Texans sport.
Nielsen and Netflix say 65 million individuals watched at the least a minute of the streamer’s NFL presentation.
“Bringing our members this record-breaking day of two NFL video games was one of the best Christmas reward we might have delivered,” stated Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content material officer. “We’re grateful for our partnership with the NFL, all of our fantastic on-air expertise, and let’s please not neglect the electrifying Beyoncé and the good Mariah Carey.”
Added Hans Schroeder, govt vp media distribution for the NFL, “We’re thrilled with our first Christmas Gameday on Netflix with NFL video games being streamed to a worldwide viewers.” Netflix says it is going to launch its personal worldwide information on the NFL video games subsequent week, which might give a extra like-to-like comparability to its most up-to-date large sporting occasion, November’s Jake Paul-Mike Tyson boxing match.
The 2 video games on Wednesday introduced in about 5 million fewer viewers than did final yr’s Christmas afternoon video games, which drew 29.48 million and 29.02 million viewers on CBS and Fox. (A primetime Monday Night time Soccer sport on ABC and ESPN final yr delivered 27.61 million viewers.) They’re, nonetheless, on the greater finish of regular-season contests this yr, trailing the three Thanksgiving video games (which averaged higher than 33 million viewers), the season opener on Sept. 5 (29.2 million throughout all platforms) and a number of other showcase video games on CBS and Fox within the late Sunday afternoon window.
The earlier excessive for a streaming-exclusive NFL sport was 23 million viewers for Peacock’s wild card playoff telecast in January. Amazon’s Prime Video is averaging 13.34 million viewers for its Thursday Night time Soccer video games this season (up 12 p.c from a yr in the past), and Peacock pulled in 14 million viewers for a sport within the opening week of the season.
Wednesday’s video games had been the primary in a three-year deal between the NFL and Netflix to stream video games on Christmas.
Within the NBA, the Christmas lineup averaged 5.25 million viewers on ABC and ESPN, an enormous improve from the all-time low of two.85 million in 2023. ABC simulcast all 5 video games this yr, whereas the broadcaster solely carried two a yr in the past due partly to its Monday Night time Soccer obligation.
A primetime matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors led the slate with 7.76 million viewers, almost six occasions the common for the comparable broadcast window a yr in the past. Lakers-Warriors was the most-watched NBA common season sport since 2019.
The opposite 4 video games all improved on their year-ago numbers as nicely, with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks drawing the second-largest hoops viewers of the day at 5.16 million viewers. The New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs averaged 4.91 million viewers, adopted by the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics (4.38 million) and Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns (3.84 million). The latter was the largest tune-in ever for the Christmas NBA nightcap.
With the massive jumps in viewership Wednesday, NBA video games on ESPN platforms at the moment are working 4 p.c forward of the identical time final season, and the league’s nationwide telecasts are off by simply 4 p.c yr to yr after working double digits behind earlier within the season.