Netflix has made history by hosting the most-streamed NFL games in US history on Christmas Day, with a staggering nearly 65 million total viewers tuning in to watch the live matches, according to Nielsen ratings. The streaming giant's systems held up remarkably well despite the massive influx of viewers, with only minor hiccups reported.

The two NFL games, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Texans vs. the Baltimore Ravens, drew an average minute audience (AMA) of 24.1 million and 24.3 million, respectively. The peak viewership was reached during the highly-anticipated Beyoncé Bowl halftime show, which garnered an impressive 27 million live viewers. As a result, Netflix has confirmed that it will add a standalone replay of the performance to its service later this week.

Despite the massive viewership, Netflix's systems were able to handle the load, unlike last month's boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, which saw the platform buckle under the weight of over 60 million households tuning in. The successful broadcast is a significant milestone for Netflix, which has been expanding its live sports offerings, including a recent deal to stream WWE Monday Night Raw.

The NFL, which has a broadcast deal with Netflix to keep Christmas Day games on the platform for at least the next two years, offered a preliminary glimpse at viewership, revealing that the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers had already become the second most popular live title on Netflix. Furthermore, one-third of Netflix's viewers at the time were watching that game, demonstrating the platform's ability to draw massive audiences.

In a surprising twist, the NBA reported that its slate of games on Christmas Day delivered the "most-watched Christmas Day in five years," averaging 5.25 million viewers per game in the US. Despite the competing Netflix broadcasts, all five NBA games saw year-over-year growth, with overall viewership up 84 percent from 2023. This suggests that the NFL's presence on Netflix did not cannibalize viewers from the NBA, but rather expanded the overall sports audience.

The success of Netflix's NFL broadcasts has significant implications for the future of live sports streaming. As more leagues and events migrate to online platforms, Netflix's ability to handle massive audiences and deliver high-quality live content will be crucial in attracting and retaining subscribers. With its sights set on becoming a major player in the live sports market, Netflix's Christmas Day NFL viewership is a promising sign of things to come.

In conclusion, Netflix's record-breaking NFL viewership on Christmas Day is a testament to the platform's growing capabilities in live sports streaming. As the streaming landscape continues to evolve, Netflix's ability to deliver high-quality, engaging content to massive audiences will be key in shaping the future of sports entertainment.