- Netflix will stream at least one NFL game on Christmas Day for the next three seasons
- NFL Fans Aren’t Happy About Buying Another Subscription to the Streaming Service
- DailyMail.com provides the latest international sports news.
The NFL has scheduled two games as part of its Christmas Day schedule that will stream exclusively on Netflix this December.
The games on Netflix are part of a three-year deal with the streaming service to stream at least one game on Christmas Day annually until 2026.
Each NFL game on Christmas Day will cost Netflix $75 million, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The NFL is able to charge the streaming giant that huge amount because of the viewership of last year’s holiday games, including a Chiefs-Raiders matchup that averaged 29.6 million viewers.
With the games moving from national television to a streaming service, many fans are upset that the games will be broadcast on another streaming service that they will have to pay for.
Last year, the Chiefs-Raiders Christmas Day game on CBS garnered huge TV ratings.
Last year’s NFL Christmas Day schedule also included 49ers-Ravens and Eagles-Giants.
The NFL streams Thursday nights on Prime Video and gave Peacock exclusive rights to the Chiefs-Dolphins Wild Card playoff game last season. The league also has exclusive content on ESPN+.
Now, a fourth streaming service will be necessary for NFL fans to watch all of the league’s action. And that’s along with a cable service or an online television provider like YouTube TV.
A basic subscription to the five services needed to watch every NFL game will cost fans more than $105 per month, with YouTube TV being the most expensive at $72.99 per month and Peacock the least expensive at $5.99.
A basic-level monthly subscription to Netflix costs $6.99, while ESPN+ and Prime Video cost $10.99 and $8.99 respectively.
‘Awesome. Now to watch NFL you only need the following: Cable or YouTube TV, Amazon, Netflix, Peacock, NFL Network. What a viewing experience,” said one fan on social media.
“Soon all NFL games will be on streaming services,” said another football fan on X. “Diluting the product.”
“The most diabolical part of this is putting it on a service that makes it basically impossible to even change the channel to NBA games during commercial breaks,” said one NFL fan.
“This is ridiculous @NFL,” another person said, summing up many of the online football fans’ reactions to the announcement.
A handful of social media messages from NFL fans unhappy with the league’s games on Netflix
The NBA has also placed a high value on Christmas Day, typically with five games beginning at noon ET on the holiday.
Next year, WWE will move its flagship weekly show from cable television to Netflix for the first time in its 30-year history.
Jake Paul’s fight against Mike Tyson is also scheduled to stream exclusively on Netflix this summer.
Netflix also tried its hand in the realm of live sports with a football-themed event already with the recent roast of Tom Brady.