NFL Games Drive Record Streaming for Netflix and Prime Video on Christmas

Jan 28, 2026, 2:52 AM
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Nielsen's recent report indicates that Christmas Day 2024 was a remarkable day for streaming platforms, primarily driven by NFL games on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The data reveals that streaming services captured a historic 54% of all television usage on that day, culminating in a staggering 55.1 billion viewing minutes.
The report highlights that Netflix achieved a record viewership of 8.5% of total TV viewing in December, which is tied for its best performance since July 2023. The platform benefitted significantly from its inaugural NFL games on Christmas, which contributed to a 14% increase in viewing compared to November.
On Christmas Day, the NFL games on Netflix drew impressive audiences, with the Detroit Lions vs Minnesota Vikings game averaging 27.5 million viewers, marking a 13% increase from the previous year. Additionally, the Dallas Cowboys vs Washington Commanders game averaged 20.1 million viewers, although this was a decrease from the previous year's comparable game.
Prime Video also experienced a record-setting Christmas, with its nighttime game between the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs averaging 21.06 million viewers. This marked the highest viewership for a Thursday Night Football game since Prime Video began airing the package exclusively. Overall, the platform achieved a 4.0% share of TV viewing, bolstered by its successful holiday film "Red One" and its coverage of NFL games.
The December measurement period, running from November 25 to December 29, 2024, showed that live sports, particularly NFL games, were pivotal in driving streaming viewership. The holiday season's influence on viewing habits has been significant, as Nielsen noted that Thanksgiving and Christmas accounted for two of the four days in December where viewing exceeded 100 billion minutes.
Streaming services not only dominated on Christmas but also contributed to a broader trend of increasing viewing hours. The overall time spent watching television rose by 4% compared to November, with streaming viewership climbing 9%, reaching a record 43.4% of total TV watch time.
YouTube maintained its lead as the largest distributor of media content, securing an 11.1% share of TV watch time. However, Netflix and Prime Video's performance underscored a growing shift towards on-demand content and live sports moving to digital platforms.
The Nielsen report highlights a continuing transformation in the television industry, where streaming services are increasingly capturing audiences traditionally held by broadcast and cable networks. In December, broadcast accounted for 21.4% of TV viewership, while cable held a 20.2% share, illustrating the ongoing change in viewer preferences.
This year’s Christmas Day NFL games were not only a milestone for Netflix and Prime Video but also reflected a broader trend of rising engagement with live sports. The significant viewership numbers on these platforms signal a growing acceptance of streaming as a primary medium for sports consumption.
As streaming services continue to innovate and expand their offerings, the success of NFL games on platforms like Netflix and Prime Video may pave the way for further growth in this sector, making live sports a central component of their programming strategies in the future.
In conclusion, the Christmas Day NFL games provided a remarkable boost to streaming viewership, demonstrating the powerful synergy between live sports and streaming services. This trend is expected to continue as viewers increasingly turn to digital platforms for their entertainment needs during key holiday periods.

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