Netflix Shatters Streaming Records with Christmas NFL Games
Netflix made history this Christmas by attracting a staggering 65 million viewers to two NFL games streamed on its platform. The showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers drew an average of 24.1 million viewers, while the Baltimore Ravens’ victory over the Houston Texans saw an average of 24.3 million viewers. These numbers catapulted these games to the title of the most streamed NFL games in U.S. history, as reported by Nielsen and confirmed by the NFL.
The Beyoncé Bowl Effect
Viewership hit a peak during the Ravens-Texans matchup when the highly-anticipated Beyoncé performance took center stage during halftime. The “Beyoncé Bowl” caused a surge in viewership, with over 27 million people tuning in to catch the iconic artist’s dazzling show. The NFL expressed their elation at the overwhelming support from fans across the globe, with Hans Schroeder, the NFL’s executive vice president of media distribution, highlighting the significance of the league’s stars and the electrifying halftime performance by Beyoncé on this historic day.
Netflix and NFL Partnership
Netflix and the NFL have sealed a three-season partnership to showcase Christmas games on the streaming platform, a move that has proven to be a massive success in terms of viewership. While the holiday football games broke streaming records, they still fell short of the colossal viewership numbers of the Super Bowl. Last season’s championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers raked in a whopping 123.4 million viewers across various networks, solidifying its position as the most-watched telecast in history.
In the grand scheme of things, the Christmas NFL games on Netflix mark a significant milestone in the realm of streaming sports content. The partnership between the streaming giant and the NFL has not only broadened the reach of the league but also provided fans with a new and convenient way to enjoy their favorite games from the comfort of their homes. With streaming numbers on the rise, it’s clear that the future of sports broadcasting is evolving rapidly, and Netflix is at the forefront of this revolution.
