The NFL will embark on a new Christmas Day tradition starting this year. Christmas Day games have been played in the past throughout the NFL, but only on special occasions.  That changes Wednesday, as the league will play Christmas Day games in the middle of the week for the first time.

The Baltimore Ravens’ victory over the Houston Texans managed an average minute audience of 24.3M viewers, and U.S. viewership peaked with more than 27M viewers during the halftime show. It was the most-watched Christmas Day NFL game on record (since 2001) among the 18-34 demo, with 5.1M tuning in.

Netflix will have one of its biggest days since the site launched in 1998 when it carries two NFL games for the first time on Christmas.

In the NBA, the Christmas lineup averaged 5.25 million viewers on ABC and ESPN, a big increase from the all-time low of 2.85 million in 2023. ABC simulcast all five games this year, whereas the broadcaster only carried two a year ago due in part to its Monday Night Football obligation.

With arguably its most important live events ever on deck, Netflix has already thoroughly impressed Wall Street this year.

Netflix's first NFL Christmas Day doubleheader ended up being successful globally. The Baltimore Ravens’ 31-2 victory over the Houston Texans averaged 31.3 million while Kansas City’s 29-10 win at Pittsburgh averaged 30 million worldwide,

Netflix paid $150 million to air two NFL games exclusively on the streaming platform on Christmas Day and it yielded record-breaking viewing figures.

Netflix registered its most-watched Christmas Day ever after splashing $150 million on the exclusive rights to two NFL games on December 25 this year