Netflix NFL Christmas Gameday reaches 65 million U.S. viewers

Christmas was a record-breaking day for Netflix and the NFL, with an unduplicated audience of nearly 65 million U.S. viewers according to Nielsen.

The Baltimore Ravens versus Houston Texans (24.3 million average minute audience) and Kansas City Chiefs versus Pittsburgh Steelers (24.1 million average minute audience) are the most-streamed NFL games in U.S. history, according to Nielsen. U.S. viewership for Ravens-Texans peaked with Beyoncé Bowl, with over 27 million viewers according to Nielsen.

AMA viewership figures are based on Fast National Live + Same Day data from Nielsen which include out-of-home viewing and CBS local market viewing, along with mobile and web data from Netflix and NFL+ mobile viewing from the NFL.

Global ratings and additional U.S. insights will be released on Dec. 31, providing a comprehensive look at Netflix’s NFL Christmas Gameday performance worldwide.

The second game of the Netflix Christmas doubleheader, Ravens-Texans, was the most-watched Christmas Day game on record among A18-34 with 5.1 million U.S. viewers (based on Nielsen records dating back to 2001).

Netflix’s Christmas Day games dominated global social conversation. #BeyonceBowl rocketed to the No. 1 worldwide trend on X immediately as her performance kicked off – replacing #Christmas itself. Following her performance, Netflix occupied 10 of the top 12 trending topics on X in the U.S. #NFLonNetflix also trended around the world, reaching a peak of No. 2 in Australia, No. 3 in the U.K. and Germany, No. 5 in Brazil and France, and No. 6 in the U.S.

CBS Sports produced the games, with NFL Media producing the pre, post and studio halftime programming. EverWonder Studio executive produced NFL Christmas Gameday.

“Bringing our members this record-breaking day of two NFL games was the best Christmas gift we could have delivered,” said Bela Bajaria, Netflix chief content officer. “We’re thankful for our partnership with the NFL, all of our wonderful on-air talent, and let’s please not forget the electrifying Beyoncé and the brilliant Mariah Carey.”

“We’re thrilled with our first Christmas Gameday on Netflix with NFL games being streamed to a global audience,” said Hans Schroeder, NFL executive vice president of media distribution. “Fans in all 50 states and over 200 countries around the world watched some of the league’s brightest stars along with a dazzling performance by Beyoncé in a historic day for the NFL.”

This year marked the first of a three-season partnership with Netflix to broadcast NFL games on Christmas Day.