The NFL is reversing course after initially stating that it would actively avoid playing games on Christmas Day in 2024. Despite the holiday falling on a Wednesday, the league plans to play as many as two games on December 25th this year.
According to John Ourand of Puck News, Netflix is seemingly the frontrunner in acquiring the rights to these games. However, Ourand also reported last week that there are still some obstacles to overcome before the deal is finalized.
Complicating matters, Ourand’s Tuesday newsletter revealed that Amazon may have thrown a wrench in the plans. They reportedly submitted a competing bid for the games. A deal with Netflix remains unsigned, with the NFL schedule release just two days away.
Despite Amazon’s challenge and the lack of an official announcement, sources close to Ourand remain confident that Netflix will ultimately secure the Christmas Day games. This aligns with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s well-known strategy of expanding NFL content across various platforms. A deal with Netflix would mark a significant step in this direction, partnering with a major streaming service boasting a massive national subscriber base.
But even with that, Ourand isn’t discounting Amazon’s bid.
Here’s why:
All that said, Amazon’s bid should not be discounted. Amazon likes its position as the NFL’s only streaming partner with a live-game package, and the platform carries a lot of sway at the league—and not just because Goodell has a close relationship with Andy Jassy or because the company’s first season of Thursday Night Football was deemed a success. Amazon’s interest in acquiring the Christmas games lies in leveraging its retail machine, similar to its 2023 Black Friday game.
We’ll have a better stance of where things stand in the coming days, but it seems like Amazon is making a last-second push to pull the rug out from underneath Netflix.
