The NFL games on Netflix generated significant viewership, setting a new record for the streaming platform. However, they fell short of the audience numbers for last year’s Christmas matchups on broadcast networks. The NBA also had a successful Christmas, with a 84 percent increase in viewership compared to the previous year.
Netflix’s two NFL games averaged 24.2 million viewers, with the peak reaching 27 million during Beyoncé’s halftime performance. Nielsen and Netflix reported that 65 million people watched at least a minute of the games on the streamer. Netflix’s chief content officer, Bela Bajaria, expressed gratitude for the partnership with the NFL and the performances by Beyoncé and Mariah Carey.
The games on Netflix were part of a three-year deal between the NFL and the streaming platform to broadcast games on Christmas. In comparison, Amazon’s Thursday Night Football games have averaged 13.34 million viewers this season, while Peacock attracted 14 million viewers for a game in the opening week.
In the NBA, the Christmas lineup on ABC and ESPN saw a significant increase in viewership compared to the previous year. The primetime matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors was the most-watched NBA regular season game since 2019. Overall, NBA games on ESPN platforms are running 4 percent ahead of last season.
The success of both the NFL and NBA games on Christmas showcases the growing popularity of sports streaming and live events on digital platforms.
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