On Christmas Day, both the NFL and NBA experienced significant viewership success, setting records and attracting millions of fans across the United States. The NFL's two games on Netflix garnered a total of 65 million viewers, with the Baltimore Ravens' victory over the Houston Texans and Kansas City's win at Pittsburgh averaging over 24 million viewers each.
Simultaneously, the NBA's holiday games saw their best numbers in five years, with an average of 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN, and other platforms. Despite the NFL's growing presence on Christmas, the NBA remains a strong contender for viewership on the holiday.
The NFL's partnership with Netflix proved fruitful, surpassing previous viewership records and attracting a global audience. The halftime show during the Ravens-Texans game, featuring Beyoncé, peaked at over 27 million viewers, further enhancing the entertainment value of the event.
Netflix's successful streaming of the NFL games was met with positive feedback, with fewer complaints about streaming quality. The streaming service expressed gratitude for its collaboration with the NFL and highlighted the performances of Beyoncé and Mariah Carey as standout moments.
On the NBA front, all five Christmas games on the schedule saw year-over-year viewership increases, with the Lakers-Warriors matchup drawing the most attention. The game, showcasing LeBron James and Stephen Curry, averaged 7.76 million viewers and marked the most-watched NBA regular season game in five years.
Overall, the NBA's viewership for the season across ESPN platforms increased by 4% compared to the previous season, with a record-breaking 500 million video views on social media platforms on Christmas Day. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed concerns about ratings, attributing the decline to shifting viewer habits towards streaming services.
Looking ahead, the NBA is set to expand its television coverage under new agreements, with plans to make every game available on a streaming service. The league's commitment to adapting to changing media consumption patterns reflects a strategic approach to engaging fans and maximizing viewership.
