The NFL is streaming two games on Christmas Day exclusively on Netflix, marking the league’s largest live-streaming effort to date and its biggest gamble since switching from DVD-by-mail. The games, between Kansas City and Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. ET, and Baltimore and Houston at 4:30 p.m. ET, will be broadcast with over 20 names from sports and entertainment providing commentary.
The NFL’s move into streaming is a win-win for all involved. For the league, it provides a new way to reach fans and capitalize on the popularity of live sports in a polarized America. For Netflix, it marks a huge leap forward in its global entertainment ambitions and allows the platform to offer real-time programming.
For fans, however, there may be some scrambling to get access to the games, as not everyone has Netflix or a smart TV with the service enabled. The ratings for this endeavor will serve as an interesting barometer of how far fans are willing to go to chase and pay for something that was once free and easy.
The teams involved have significant playoff implications in both games. Kansas City can clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC, while Pittsburgh needs to keep ahead of Baltimore to stay alive in the AFC North championship hopes. Meanwhile, Houston’s playoff spot is secure, but it can move up a notch if the two AFC North teams struggle over their last two games.
The NFL’s Christmas Day assault also cannot have come at a worse time for the NBA, which stands at the end of its LeBron-Steph-KD era and at the beginning of a new, uncertain one. The league is dwarfed by the NFL in popularity, and it will likely vacuum up many casual viewers on what was once the NBA’s own holiday.
Overall, the NFL’s move into streaming is a bold move that could pay off for all parties involved. With over 20 names providing commentary, the games promise to be exciting and entertaining, even if fans have to track down their remotes and navigate new service options.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-on-netflix-whats-at-stake-for-the-league-the-streamer-the-fans-and-the-nba-150211458.html