For the primary time, Netflix completely aired NFL video games, with a Christmas Day doubleheader that featured the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans (plus a halftime efficiency by Beyoncé). For a few years, the NBA dominated Christmas Day, however now the NFL is stealing the highlight. Los Angeles Lakers celebrity LeBron James weighed in on this.
LeBron James Reclaims Christmas for the NBA
The NBA is understood for taking part in on Christmas Day and has had a Christmas custom because the league’s inception in 1947.
With that being mentioned, the NFL is all the time searching for methods to increase the league’s recognition, so it doesn’t come as a lot of a shock that it’s encroaching on the NBA’s large day.
LeBron to the NFL: pic.twitter.com/6rvo5OncTt
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 26, 2024
After a particularly hard-fought Lakers win over the Golden State Warriors, James ended his post-game interview by merely saying, “I really like the NFL, however Christmas is our day.”
The NFL has been slowly creeping in the direction of this second, as they went from taking part in on Christmas in years when it falls on a weekend to making a schedule that ensures soccer can be on the vacation each single yr. Now, the numbers present that Christmas might need joined Thanksgiving as a football-first vacation.
The NFL went large for this yr’s vacation. The 2 video games featured 4 playoff groups from 2023 within the Chiefs, Steelers, Ravens, and Texans. As well as, the Ravens-Texans sport featured a uncommon regular-season halftime present, with Beyoncé placing on a live performance that earned widespread consideration and acclaim.
The league’s efforts paid off.
Netflix introduced that almost one-third of its international concurrents had been watching the Chiefs-Steelers sport. There have been viewers from over 200 international locations who watched the sport.
Netflix eclipsed its peak concurrent viewers of any Christmas over the previous 4 years.
NFL and NBA viewership numbers from the Christmas video games:
NFL:– Raiders-Chiefs: 29.17M– Giants-Eagles: 29.02M– Ravens-49ers: 27.23M
NBA (by way of @sportsrapport)– Bucks-Knicks: 2.5M– Warriors-Nuggets: 4.1M– Celtics-Lakers: 5.0M– 76ers-Warmth: 1.3M– Mavericks-Suns: 1.5M
The NFL… pic.twitter.com/744DQ6hBEy
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 28, 2023
So, whereas LeBron might have claimed the day within the interview, the NFL clearly reigns supreme in terms of assist from the lots.
Each leagues have an immense following and really loyal followers, however in terms of placing on a present and advertising it, the NFL is second to none and the followers are recognizing that.
I believe they need to add some Christmas Eve video games. The sports activities calendar was empty final night time and the NBA will nonetheless get crushed in viewership right this moment regardless of 1) the NFL video games requiring a subscription and a couple of) the NBA placing just about all of its star gamers in motion right this moment.
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) December 25, 2024
“I believe [the NBA] ought to add some Christmas Eve video games,” sports activities and enterprise professional Joe Pompliano mentioned. “The sports activities calendar was empty final night time and the NBA will nonetheless get crushed in viewership right this moment regardless of 1) the NFL video games requiring a subscription and a couple of) the NBA placing just about all of its star gamers in motion right this moment.”
Not my pal. Go test the truth of Netflix NFL vs. the NBA on ESPN. One NFL sport had a bigger viewers than all 6 NBA video games on Christmas Day mixed. https://t.co/CzMJOBiUlo
— Freehold (@Estreetband1968) December 26, 2024
It’s simple to see that the NBA felt the warmth from the NFL saying these Christmas video games, with matchups that even some followers discovered questionable however on paper make sense.
The league centered on their worldwide market, showcasing Victor Wembanyama (France), Luka Doncic (Slovenia), and Nikola Jokic (Serbia) alongside final yr’s champion (Boston Celtics) and the sport’s two greatest present legends (LeBron James and Stephen Curry) squaring off.
Tomorrow would be the first Christmas shortly that I’ll be watching the NFL over the NBA.
Granted the Steelers play tomorrow, but when the NBA isn’t occupied with having the #1 seed within the West play on Christmas, I’m not occupied with boosting their rankings
— ThunderND 🎅🏼🌹 (@ThunderND) December 24, 2024
“Tomorrow would be the first Christmas shortly that I’ll be watching the NFL over the NBA. Granted the Steelers play tomorrow, but when the NBA isn’t occupied with having the #1 seed within the West (OKC) play on Christmas, I’m not occupied with boosting their rankings,” one fan acknowledged.
It will likely be attention-grabbing to see what the precise viewership numbers appear like when they’re launched over the following 24 to 48 hours.
