Netflix To Stream NFL Christmas Day Games
Netflix has announced a deal with the NFL to stream two Christmas Day games globally this year, followed by at least one holiday game in 2025 and 2026. This marks the first time the streaming giant has secured rights to show live football, with Netflix content chief Bela Bajaria highlighting the immense popularity of NFL football. While financial terms were not disclosed, reports from Bloomberg News suggest Netflix will pay less than $150 million per game.
The deal follows Netflix's growing interest in live events and sports for retaining users and expanding its advertising business amid increasing competition. This year, Netflix signed a deal to exclusively stream WWE's RAW and broadcasted a tennis match between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz. The NFL agreement represents a significant shift for Netflix, who previously were not looking at entering the competitive sports rights market due to its high investment prices.
Netflix's decision to stream NFL games joins a broader trend of streaming platforms investing in live sports programming. Amazon Prime holds rights to Thursday Night Football, while Apple TV+ shows Friday Night Baseball and Major League Soccer. Industry analysts view 2024 as a turning point for streaming platforms, with Netflix's move into live sports marking a significant development.
The NFL Christmas Day games, which are a tradition that started in 1971, will continue to be available on broadcast TV in local team markets and on the NFL+ mobile app. Netflix is set to hire their own announcers for the games and collaborate with existing production companies. The games are expected to draw large audiences, providing Netflix with a valuable opportunity to attract advertisers and drive user engagement during the holiday season.
