The NFL has announced that Netflix will host their Christmas Day games for the next three years after signing an exclusive deal
Netflix is diving into the NFL scene with a three-year exclusive deal to stream Christmas Day games, marking a significant shift in sports broadcasting.
Roger Goodell, the NFL Commissioner, has embraced streaming platforms as “the future” of how fans will watch sports, announcing that Netflix, along with Amazon Prime and Peacock, will be airing NFL games. Specifically, Netflix is set to broadcast one game on December 25 in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, expressed excitement about the partnership: “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.”
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This move by the NFL encroaches on what has been traditional territory for the NBA, which has historically showcased games exclusively on Christmas Day across its own platforms and major networks like ESPN and ABC. The NFL has also scheduled games on December 25 in recent years when the date fell on a weekend.
The NBAs Christmas Day games have long been a highlight for sports fans, featuring five matches throughout the day and special one-off jerseys for each team, creating a festive atmosphere.
NFL boss Goodell had previously stated that games on the holiday period wouldn’t be a common occurrence, as he stated: “It will not be a regular thing. It will be when Christmas falls on a Wednesday.”
However, he has since retracted this by saying: “Well, I think the days are the same for us. We’ve done this. In fact, COVID was a learning opportunity. I think it was the first time we played on a Wednesday…but the time period between games has been done before.”
“We have not seen any elevation of injuries. You all, and we, have had a major focus on Thursday night when we first put it in, and we’ve still not seen any kind of elevation of injuries. So I think we have this down.”
Playing matches during festive times hasn’t gone down well with the players, with this year’s game scheduled for a Wednesday likely to impact the teams the following week given they’ll have less time to recuperate and make mends.