Netflix is gearing up to delight its audience on Christmas Day with two exciting NFL games, starting off with a special performance from Mariah Carey, singing “All I Want for Christmas is You.” However, as noted by Brandon Riegg, Netflix’s vice president of nonfiction series and sports, streaming issues could spoil the event for viewers.
Riegg has been addressing numerous inquiries regarding Netflix’s preparedness for what might be one of its busiest days, especially after the streaming troubles that occurred during the fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson on November 14. “We had an incredible influx of viewers, and although our engineering team did extensive testing, experiencing such a massive load can only truly be gauged during an actual event,” he explained. “We aim to avoid technical difficulties and ensure our members enjoy a seamless experience. While some viewers did experience challenges, the upside is that we learned from it and are implementing improvements.”
The Christmas Day lineup features two games, kicking off with a two-hour pregame show at 11 a.m. EST, leading to the matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs. The second contest involves the Baltimore Ravens taking on the Houston Texans at 4:30 p.m. EST. This momentous occasion will be accessible to Netflix’s 282.3 million subscribers across more than 190 countries, marking the first instance of a singular platform broadcasting an NFL game globally.
This move into the realm of sports has surprised many, as Netflix’s entry into NFL game broadcasting comes amid its broader strategy to attract sports enthusiasts. Last Friday, Netflix secured rights to air the U.S. for the FIFA Women’s World Cups scheduled for 2027 and 2031. Moreover, its partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment will also commence, starting with “Monday Night Raw” set to premiere on January 6.
The Tyson-Paul fight reached an impressive viewership, with 60 million people tuning in across the globe and a peak of 65 million concurrent streams, including 38 million from the United States. In contrast, Down Detector reported that around 85,000 viewers faced issues with streaming before the fight. When compared, the largest audience for a streamed-exclusive NFL game previously stood at 23 million on Peacock during the last season’s AFC wild card game and 17.3 million on Amazon Prime for a regular-season contest in December.
Nielsen will be in charge of tracking viewership for the Christmas Day games, with initial ratings expected to be released on the afternoon of December 26. Additionally, the games will also be broadcast on CBS affiliates in cities where the competing teams are located. This aligns with a longstanding policy that requires games on cable or streaming platforms to also appear on local over-the-air channels. The highest viewership is predicted to occur at 6 p.m. EST during halftime of the Ravens-Texans game, coinciding with a performance by Beyoncé.
These Christmas Day matchups are the first installment of a three-year agreement for Netflix, which also includes games in 2025 and 2026, with a total investment of $150 million for this year’s package. While Netflix generally does not pursue extensive game packages aligned with its overall philosophy, the opportunity to broadcast games on Christmas Day was compelling.
Mike North, the NFL’s vice president of broadcast planning, mentioned that initially, there were no plans for games on Christmas this year due to it falling on a Wednesday. However, the potential for increased viewership changed their perspective. Last year’s three Christmas Day games averaged 28.68 million viewers, with the early afternoon game between the Raiders and Chiefs leading with 29.48 million. NFL owners agreed to schedule two games on Christmas during their spring meetings, after which Netflix expressed strong interest.
Netflix already maintains a connection with the NFL through its series, “Quarterback” and “Receiver.” Riegg emphasized that this event is distinct from regular week games, stating, “It’s not just any game; it’s an occasion. My goal is to create a warm, festive, family-friendly environment. We aim to elevate the experience to align with the spirit of the holiday.”
In an effort to enhance family-oriented viewing, Netflix has paired the father-son announcing duo of Ian and Noah Eagle for its play-by-play commentary. JJ Watt will serve as the analyst for the Chiefs-Steelers game while his brother, TJ Watt, works to contain Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Similarly, the McCourty brothers, Jason and Devin, will be part of the pregame show from Pittsburgh, with Laura Rutledge as the host.
For the commentary in Pittsburgh, Ian Eagle will be joined by Watt and Nate Burleson as analysts, while sideline reporting will be carried out by Melanie Collins and Stacey Dales. In Houston, Noah Eagle will be alongside Greg Olsen, with Jamie Erdahl and Steve Wyche reporting from the sidelines. Pregame, halftime, and postgame coverage will be anchored from NFL Network’s studios, featuring hosts like Kay Adams, with insights from analysts Drew Brees, Robert Griffin III, Mina Kimes, and Manti Te’o.
CBS Sports will oversee the game production, while NFL Media will handle studio programming, with EverWonder Studio taking on the executive production for NFL Christmas Gameday. Hans Schroeder, executive VP of NFL Media, commended Netflix’s efforts and strategic planning, stating, “The experience is set to deliver not only high-quality football but also an event that feels global in nature.”