The NFL has revealed that its Christmas Day games set a new record, attracting an audience of nearly 65 million viewers in the US, according to Nielsen.
Globally, viewers from 218 countries and territories tuned into Netflix on 25 December. The Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game drew a 30 million Global Average Minute Audience (AMA), while the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans game attracted 31.3 million Global AMA.
All parties involved are likely satisfied with the outcome, especially considering this marked the first of a three-season partnership with Netflix to air NFL games on Christmas Day.
When the deal was announced last May, many questioned Netflix’s ability to host the games, given its limited experience in live broadcasting at the time.
Ahead of these games, Netflix had already hosted a high-profile boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. While the fight attracted a record viewership, the broadcast faced notable issues, adding extra pressure on Netflix.
In November, Netflix revealed it had sold out all advertising space for the NFL Christmas games, with FanDuel and Verizon securing the major sponsorships.
Any lingering doubts quickly disappeared, as both games claimed the No. 1 (Ravens-Texans) and No. 2 (Chiefs-Steelers) spots on Netflix’s Global Top 10 for the week, ranking highly across multiple countries.
The Chiefs-Steelers game made the daily Top 10 in 72 countries, with notable viewership in Canada, Germany, Ireland and the UK, while the Ravens-Texans game appeared in the Top 10 in 62 countries, seeing strong engagement in Australia, Austria and Mexico.
Building on the success of these games, Netflix is likely to further invest in live-streaming sports events. This triumph has proven that the platform is capable of handling major broadcasts, positioning it as a viable option for any sports leagues considering a new home in the coming years.
