Kansas City, Mo. – In a historic move for the NFL, Netflix is set to air its first live football games on Christmas Day this Wednesday. Dubbed “NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix,” the event will kick off with a pregame show at 11 a.m. local time, followed by a game featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Kansas City Chiefs. The second game of the day will see the Baltimore Ravens take on the Houston Texans.
This marks a significant moment for the streaming giant, which secured a three-year contract in May to broadcast these special holiday games. With over 282.3 million subscribers across more than 190 countries, Netflix will be the first platform to stream NFL games globally. Fans will be able to watch in multiple languages, including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German.
The NFL is capitalizing on its growing trend of streaming as Netflix pays a hefty $150 million for these games this season. Both games will also be available on local CBS affiliates in the home markets of the competing teams. NFL rules require that any game streamed only on cable must also be shown on an over-the-air station for local fans.
Last year’s Christmas games drew impressive ratings, averaging nearly 28.68 million viewers. With ratings like these, it’s no wonder the NFL is eager to embrace streaming, following previous deals with Amazon Prime Video and YouTube TV.
This week will also feature a unique turn of events. The four participating teams have already secured playoff spots, but their rankings are up for grabs, making the matches even more exciting. The Chiefs, with a solid record of 14-1, can clinch the top seed with a victory, while the Steelers and Ravens are locked in a tight race for the AFC North title.
As fans eagerly anticipate these games, there is buzz about potential celebrity appearances. Notably, Beyoncé is scheduled to perform during the halftime of the Ravens vs. Texans game, and Mariah Carey will kick off the day’s festivities with a special performance. There’s also speculation about whether pop star Taylor Swift will make an appearance to support her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
As this new chapter unfolds for the NFL and Netflix, early ratings are expected to provide insight into just how successful this streaming venture will be on Christmas.
