Christmas NFL To Stream On Netflix

Netflix will live-stream two National Football League games on Christmas Day, a big step in the streamer's modest inching into live sports broadcasting.

The company reached a three-season deal with the NFL and will broadcast the two marquee games this Christmas, and at least one holiday game on each of the next two Christmas Days.

Netflix has tended to focus on "sports-adjacent" series and has downplayed live broadcasts even as other streamers and ESPN sibling Hulu charged into the space. But it's been making increasing inroads into live sports, with the most notable recent example being its deal to stream a fight between former heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson and YouTube celebrity Jake Paul this summer.

This move marks Netflix's first football games, though, and high-profile games to boot.

“Last year, we decided to take a big bet on live — tapping into massive fandoms across comedy, reality TV, sports, and more,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria. “There are no live annual events, sports or otherwise, that compare with the audiences NFL football attracts. We’re so excited that the NFL’s Christmas Day games will be only on Netflix.”

Last year, the three games on Christmas day all ranked among the top 25 ratings-grabbers for the year -- and the notable Raiders-Chiefs game with Taylor Swift in attendance drew the highest Christmas viewership since 1988, Netflix notes.

The NFL announces its full 2024 schedule Wednesday night.