Netflix and the NFL just made history. On Christmas Gameday, Netflix hosted two NFL games that broke streaming records in the US, proving that football and holiday cheer go hand in hand.
With a massive audience and Beyoncé’s jaw-dropping halftime performance, it was a day for the books.
Record-Breaking Numbers
The numbers speak for themselves. Netflix delivered the two most-streamed NFL games in US history:
- Ravens vs. Texans: 24.3 million viewers
- Chiefs vs. Steelers: 24.1 million viewers
Both games pulled in an unduplicated audience of nearly 65 million US viewers, according to Nielsen.
BEYONCÉ TO PERFORM AT HALFTIME OF RAVENS-TEXANS DURING NFL CHRISTMAS GAMEDAY LIVE ON NETFLIX
The NFL Games featuring Beyoncés performance will be available to Netflixs 283 million members globally on December 25.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SQwHWRWQJ4
The Ravens-Texans game reached its peak during Beyoncé’s halftime performance, drawing over 27 million viewers—the biggest Christmas Day audience for an NFL game in Nielsen’s recorded history.
Young Viewers Tune In
The Ravens-Texans game also set a record for Christmas Day games among the coveted 18-34 demographic, pulling in 5.1 million US viewers. It’s clear that Netflix is bringing football to a younger, streaming-savvy audience in a big way.
Social Media Goes Wild
It wasn’t just the viewership numbers that made waves. Beyoncé’s halftime show lit up social media, with #BeyonceBowl trending worldwide, even overtaking #Christmas as the top trend on X (formerly Twitter). After her performance, Netflix dominated US trending topics, holding 10 of the top 12 spots. Globally, #NFLonNetflix trended in countries like Australia, Germany, and Brazil, proving the NFL’s worldwide appeal.
This monumental event was made possible through a collaboration between CBS Sports, NFL Media, and EverWonder Studio. CBS Sports handled the game production, while NFL Media took care of pregame, postgame, and studio halftime coverage. Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria and NFL EVP Hans Schroeder both expressed excitement over the success, calling it a historic moment for both organizations.
“Bringing our members this record-breaking day of two NFL games was the best Christmas gift we could have delivered.” – Bela Bajaria, Netflix CCO
This is just the start of Netflix’s three-season partnership with the NFL to broadcast Christmas Day games. With such an explosive debut, fans are already buzzing about what’s to come in the next two years. Will Netflix introduce even more interactive features or exclusive halftime shows? One thing’s for sure: this partnership is reshaping how we experience football.
