The NFL is getting into new holiday entertainment dimensions, hand in hand with Netflix in a way never done before, for possibly one’s favorite new Christmas tradition: NFL Christmas Gameday.
On December 25, 2024, two of the most highly expected matches will include the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens battling against the Houston Texans, both live via Netflix.
It will be another creative move that recognizes the changing landscape of sports broadcasting while ensuring fans worldwide have an entirely different viewing experience.
For the first time in its history, Netflix will host NFL games live- a great leap for the streaming giant in continuing to expand from traditional films and series.
The NFL is LIVE on Netflix. This Christmas!
— Netflix (@netflix) October 20, 2024
Wednesday December 25
Chiefs vs. Steelers at 1 PM ET
Ravens vs. Texans at 4:30 PM ET pic.twitter.com/gl7nN57CnL
The event will kick off with a two-hour pregame show starting at 11 AM ET, setting the stage for an exciting day of football.
The Chiefs vs. Steelers game will begin at 1 PM ET, followed by the Ravens vs. Texans at 4:30 PM ET.
This project is part of a three-year agreement between Netflix and the NFL to ensure at least one Christmas Day game until 2026.
Pentatonix Will Perform The National Anthem At The Ravens vs. Texans Game, With Beyoncé As The Halftime Act
The NFL has come to adopt Christmas Day games due to the consistently high viewership numbers and interest among fans.
Last year, Christmas Day games averaged over 28 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched days in sports television.
With this year’s Christmas falling on a Wednesday, usually a quiet day for the league, NFL teams juggled their schedules to take advantage of the quirk.
The four teams played the Saturday before Christmas, ensuring sufficient rest before their holiday matchups.
But beyond the exciting plays, Netflix is pulling all the stops to make this an experience beyond football.
JUST ANNOUNCED! 🏈🎶🎄
— Pentatonix (@PTXofficial) December 19, 2024
We’re SO excited to be performing the National Anthem at the Baltimore @Ravens vs. @HoustonTexans game on CHRISTMAS DAY at 4:30 PM ET 🎤
Tune into @NFL Christmas Gameday LIVE on @Netflix to catch our performance! #NFLonNetflix pic.twitter.com/UEJhwNRsTx
The Grammy-winning music group Pentatonix will render the national anthem before the start of the Ravens against the Texans game, where Beyoncé will headline the middle act and introduce tracks from her newest album.
A combination of sports and entertainment is sure to appeal to not just die-hard football fans but more so to the casual audience seeking entertainment on this Sunday of festivity.
Four teams. Two doubleheaders.
— NFL (@NFL) December 18, 2024
See the @HoustonTexans, @Chiefs, @steelers and @ravens face off in the NFL Holiday Remix starting this Saturday! pic.twitter.com/qNr4BROM8N
These games pit all four teams against each other with significant playoff implications.
The Chiefs are fighting for the top seed in the AFC, while the Steelers and Ravens are fighting for the top spot in their division.
This Is Not Netflix’s Debut Into Live Sports, But It Had A Few Rough Experiences With Them In The Past
In the wake of technical difficulties experienced during a boxing match earlier this year, Netflix significantly improved its streaming infrastructure to ensure a smooth experience for viewers this Christmas.
With over 282 million subscribers worldwide, Netflix is primed to reach a very vast audience, which could make this event a monumental moment in sports broadcasting history.
As Netflix does this for the first time with NFL Christmas Gameday, it sets the bar for streaming platforms collaborating with major sports leagues.
WWE Raw is getting in the ring with Netflix!
— Netflix (@netflix) January 23, 2024
Starting in January 2025, Netflix will exclusively stream WWE Raw in the US, Canada, UK, & Latin America. Every single week, all year long. https://t.co/4hiJ2bBpQG pic.twitter.com/i7lz1k80YL
With more Christmas games planned in the coming years and additional live sports content like WWE programming beginning in January 2025, Netflix is positioning itself as a serious player in live sports broadcasting.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- The NFL Christmas games will air on Netflix for all subscribers, locally in team markets, and on NFL+.
- All four participating teams have a lot riding on these games as they compete for playoff spots.
- Expect more holiday games and live sports content from Netflix in upcoming years.
