Netflix’s debut as an NFL media partner seems to be off to a smooth start, with no major technical issues reported during their first Christmas Day game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers. The game kicked off at 1 p.m. ET, following two hours of pregame coverage. The next game on the lineup is between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans at 4:30 p.m. ET, with superstar BeyoncĂ© scheduled to perform at halftime.
The lack of significant errors in the livestreams is a positive sign for Netflix, especially after the technical difficulties experienced during their previous live sporting event, the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight. Despite some glitches during the Paul-Tyson event, it still managed to attract a global audience, with an estimated average minute audience of 108 million viewers and 65 million concurrent streams at its peak.
The demand for the Paul-Tyson fight may have been higher than for the Christmas Day football games, as the four AFC teams playing had already secured playoff berths. In comparison, ABC and ESPN were airing five NBA games on December 25th as part of the NBA’s traditional Christmas Day lineup.
Under Netflix’s agreement with the NFL, the games streamed in the U.S. expire three hours after the livestream ends, while international viewers have 24 hours to watch the games. Ad breaks were included in the livestreams, even for subscribers on no-ads plans, and Netflix used this opportunity to promote its upcoming programming, including “Squid Game” Season 2 and WWE’s “Monday Night Raw.”
Looking ahead, Netflix has secured rights to at least one holiday NFL game in 2025 and 2026, as well as a deal to air WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” live each week starting in January 2025. Additionally, the streamer recently acquired exclusive U.S. rights to the 2027 and 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Overall, Netflix’s foray into live sports streaming with the NFL appears to be a promising venture, with opportunities for growth and expansion in the future. The seamless integration of live sports content into the platform adds another layer of entertainment options for Netflix subscribers.
