The NFL's venture into streaming continued with its Christmas Day doubleheader airing on Netflix. This move, part of a three-year deal, aimed to expand the league's reach to a wider audience. However, the streaming giant faced scrutiny following technical issues during a previous high-profile live event, raising concerns about the reliability of their platform for live sports.
While the stream quality held up for the most part during the Chiefs vs. Steelers game, the pregame show experienced a few minor technical glitches. Brief audio issues with co-host Kay Adams' microphone and an unexpected advertisement interrupting analyst Mina Kimes were among the reported problems. Despite these hiccups, the broadcast resumed without further interruption after the ad.
Another on-air error occurred during the game itself when the scorebug incorrectly displayed the Steelers' timeout count. This was quickly rectified. These minor issues, while not significant enough to derail the broadcast, highlighted the challenges of live streaming major sporting events and the pressure on Netflix to deliver a seamless viewing experience.
Netflix's multi-year agreement with the NFL guarantees the streaming of at least one holiday game in both 2025 and 2026. This deal, estimated at $150 million, underscores the NFL's commitment to expanding its digital presence and Netflix's ambition to become a major player in live sports streaming. This partnership builds upon previous collaborations, including the docuseries "Quarterback" and "Receiver," further solidifying the relationship between the two entities.
As part of the agreement, games are also available on local broadcast television in the competing teams' markets, and on the NFL+ streaming service for mobile viewers in the U.S. The Christmas Day doubleheader served as a key test for Netflix's live streaming capabilities and its ability to handle the demands of a large-scale sporting event. The performance, while not flawless, demonstrated the potential of the platform for future live sports broadcasts.
