Updated: Netflix Gets Two NFL Christmas Games In 2024

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By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man –Follow me on X.

Netflix and the NFL announced today that the streaming giant will host two exclusive Christmas Day games this year and at least one Christmas game in 2025 and 2026. The 2024 games will be revealed tonight when the league announces its complete schedule for the upcoming season.

The world’s largest streaming service has flirted with becoming a major player in the sports TV rights world, but this would be its biggest play yet. Netflix has streamed a few live sporting events such as a celebrity golf tournament and an exhibition tennis match, and it has plans to offer a boxing match on July 20 between Mike Tyson and YouTube influencer turned pugilist Jake Paul.

The NFL aired three games on Christmas last year, but they were broadcast by CBS, Fox and ABC, channels that can be watched via an antenna or a multi-channel pay TV service such as cable or satellite. The Netflix games will require a subscription to the streaming service.

“Last year, we decided to take a big bet on live — tapping into massive fandoms across comedy, reality TV, sports, and more,” Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria said in a statement. “There are no live annual events, sports or otherwise, that compare with the audiences NFL football attracts. We’re so excited that the NFL’s Christmas Day games will be only on Netflix.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to be the first professional sports league to partner with Netflix to bring live games to fans around the world,” added Hans Schroeder, NFL Executive Vice President of Media Distribution. “The NFL on Christmas has become a tradition and to partner with Netflix, a service whose biggest day of the year is typically this holiday, is the perfect combination to grow this event globally for NFL fans.”

Update: The two games will be Kansas City vs Pittsburgh and Baltimore vs Houston.

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The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered the TV technology scene for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch television. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.