The NFL has announced a new Christmas tradition. Starting this year, the brand appears to be interested in hosting games over the Christmas holidays, with there being a match played on Christmas Day this Wednesday.
For the first time, the NFL has partnered with Netflix as its streaming partner, marking their first collaboration in their partnership.
NFL matches on Christmas
While NFL matches sometimes coincide on Christmas, this marks a new moment for the NFL, who actively sought to have the matches occur on the weekday comfortably, when the viewership is expected to be large.
This also marks the first time when the games will be streamed on Netflix.
The partnership between the NFL and Netflix
The NFL and Netflix made a $150 million deal, giving the streamer rights to broadcast Christmas games in each of the next three seasons. This year, Netflix will host two Christmas games this season, and one Christmas Day game in 2025 and 2026, taking place on Thursday and Friday.
Four teams will be playing this Christmas, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, and the Baltimore Ravens. The league accommodated three days' rest for each team, so they all recovered equally.
What does this mean for the future?
The NFL and the holidays have a long history, with match days like Thanksgiving generating a lot of viewership. Last year, over 28 million people watched football games on Christmas, generating a lot of money. This year, Netflix generated $150 million from the NFL, per a CBS report. The earnings suggest that Christmas games will likely become a bigger part of our future.
How to watch
“NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix” begins at 11 a.m., with a two-hour pre-show ahead of the Pittsburgh and Kansas City game. Baltimore will play in the second game.