The NFL’s Christmas Day experiment with Netflix delivered strong viewership numbers, while the NBA faces a 17% ratings drop across traditional networks this season, highlighting shifting trends in sports broadcasting.
Netflix’s first-ever NFL broadcast, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, became the streaming service’s second-most popular live event, reaching viewers in over 200 countries.
The streaming giant paid $150 million per game for two Christmas Day matchups, with CBS handling production.
“That was one perfect piece of broadcasting,” praised one viewer on social media, though some complained about technical issues and streaming quality. The broadcast team included Ian Eagle, Nate Burlson, and JJ Watt in the booth.
Meanwhile, the NFL continues its broader ratings success, averaging 17.3 million viewers per game through the first ten weeks of the season, marking some of its highest numbers in a decade. Amazon Prime’s NFL viewership increased 7% compared to last year.
The ratings gain highlight the NBA’s challenges, which Commissioner Adam Silver attributes partly to declining cable subscriptions.
“We’re almost at the inflection point where people are watching more programming on streaming than they are in traditional television,” Silver said, announcing plans to make all NBA games available on streaming services next year.
The NFL’s successful Netflix debut suggests audiences will follow major sports to streaming platforms, despite some viewers’ resistance to additional subscription costs.
“Another service to own just to watch 2 games… Too expensive when added with all the other ‘services’ we need just to watch what is the #1 sport in america,” one fan complained on social media.