LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) – The NFL and NBA delivered a Christmas Day for the books, captivating audiences across streaming platforms and television.
NFL games streamed on Netflix shattered records as the most-watched in U.S. history. The Baltimore Ravens’ 31-2 rout of the Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million viewers, while the Kansas City Chiefs’ 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers drew 24.1 million, according to Nielsen. A Beyoncé halftime show during the Ravens-Texans game peaked with 27 million viewers, fueling the buzz.
NBA Christmas action also soared, with five games averaging 5.25 million viewers across ABC and ESPN—the highest holiday numbers in five years. The Los Angeles Lakers’ narrow 115-113 victory against the Golden State Warriors, featuring stars LeBron James and Stephen Curry, led the pack with 7.76 million viewers.
Netflix, in its first season streaming NFL games under a three-year deal, attributed part of its success to reduced complaints about streaming quality. “We’re thrilled to see audiences embrace this new chapter,” said Hans Schroeder, NFL Media’s executive vice president.
In a statement, Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer, said the streaming service is pleased with the NFL, the on-air crew and “the electrifying Beyoncé and the brilliant Mariah Carey.”
James jokingly claimed Christmas as “our day” during a postgame interview, but the data told a different story. Both leagues found plenty of room to thrive as viewers balanced basketball and football.
The NBA, meanwhile, highlighted growing digital engagement with over 500 million social media video views on Wednesday alone, a new record.
As both leagues eye next year’s holiday schedules, one thing is clear: Christmas sports fans are here for it.
