Remember when Christmas Day used to be about family and gifts? A piping hot cocoa to start the day with a glass of wine to finish it. Gifts, family, food, fun. Do you also remember when sports on Christmas Day used to be minimal? Now, one in four Americans surround their Christmas Day planning around sports. Specifically the NBA and the NFL. Talk about a lump of coal for ol' Kris Kringle.
Since 2021, the NFL has staged at least two regular-season games every Christmas. The games began airing on traditional broadcast networks such as FOX and CBS, but have since shifted mainly to Netflix. This year, the NFL is presenting three games on the annual holiday that has long been dominated by the NBA. That has led to observers questioning whether the NBA should shift away from the holiday it has long claimed as its own. In reality, any shift would be a giant mistake.
Let's start with viewership.
Last year, ESPN/ABC's five-game slate of NBA action drew an average of 5.5 million viewers. The top stars were prominently featured. Start with the Knicks out East, mix in Steph Curry and defending league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and wrap things up with Nikola Jokic out West. From noon until well after midnight, NBA basketball was live on television. What we all have come to expect annually.
The NBA has had five games every Christmas since 2008, and viewership overall has been relatively consistent, averaging around 4.5 million to upwards of 6.3 million viewers, with most years falling in the 5.5 million range.
#start #gifts
Since 2021, the NFL has staged at least two regular-season games every Christmas. The games began airing on traditional broadcast networks such as FOX and CBS, but have since shifted mainly to Netflix. This year, the NFL is presenting three games on the annual holiday that has long been dominated by the NBA. That has led to observers questioning whether the NBA should shift away from the holiday it has long claimed as its own. In reality, any shift would be a giant mistake.
Let's start with viewership.
Last year, ESPN/ABC's five-game slate of NBA action drew an average of 5.5 million viewers. The top stars were prominently featured. Start with the Knicks out East, mix in Steph Curry and defending league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and wrap things up with Nikola Jokic out West. From noon until well after midnight, NBA basketball was live on television. What we all have come to expect annually.
The NBA has had five games every Christmas since 2008, and viewership overall has been relatively consistent, averaging around 4.5 million to upwards of 6.3 million viewers, with most years falling in the 5.5 million range.
#start #gifts
10 days ago
