Netflix will commence a new holiday tradition on Christmas Day when it broadcasts two NFL regular-season games, the first season under a three-year deal. The programming will include on-air talent from six different broadcast companies as the streaming provider presents the action starting from Acrisure Stadium featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs. Netflix will air part of its pre-show live from Pittsburgh hosted by Laura Rutledge featuring brothers Devin McCourty and Jason McCourty serving as analysts.
Airing live from Los Angeles will be the platform’s studio-based pregame show hosted by Kay Adams with analysts Drew Brees, Robert Griffin III, Mina Kimes and Manti Te’o. These pre-show commentators will return at halftime to break down the action as well.
CBS Sports colleagues Ian Eagle, Nate Burleson and J.J. Watt will work together for the Chiefs-Steelers game in the broadcast booth. Melanie Collins, sideline reporter for the NFL on CBS broadcast franchise, will be fulfilling the same role on this broadcast, along with NFL Network senior national reporter Stacey Dales. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport will be standing by to report breaking news, while former NFL official and CBS Sports rules analyst Gene Steratore will work in the role for both games. Comedian Bert Kreischer will be a tailgate correspondent for the game broadcast, while Nate Bargatze is slated to take the air as a special guest.
“There are two phenomenal matchups,” Watt said to Tudum by Netflix. “The Chiefs and Steelers are both near the top of the AFC — [it will be] an old school battle, hopefully with a bit of snow. Just a perfect Christmas Day game.”
Action in the AFC continues as the Baltimore Ravens face the Houston Texans from NRG Stadium at 4:30 p.m. EST. NBC Sports play-by-play announcer Noah Eagle will be joined by FOX Sports analyst Greg Olsen in the broadcast booth to call the action. NFL Network colleagues Jamie Erdahl and Steve Wyche will report from the sidelines for the matchup as well. Beyoncé will be the halftime performer for the game airing on Netflix while the studio crew from Los Angeles continues to be present in the studio.
“Aside from Beyonce, this is an outstanding quarterback matchup,” Eagle said to Tudum by Netflix. One of the rising stars of the NFL in CJ Stroud [of the Houston Texans] is going up against the reigning MVP in Lamar Jackson [of the Baltimore Ravens]. This time of year is when the stars tend to rise to the occasion. Now they get to do it for a global audience, which makes it all the more special.”
The game will be available to view for Netflix subscribers around the world in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and German. Brees will work with NFL Network host Scott Hanson to provide further commentary outside of the United States with international anchors to be announced.
Netflix’s presentation of these NFL games will air on CBS-affiliated stations in competing team’s cities and will also be available through NFL+ on mobile devices. CBS Sports is producing the games airing on Netflix, while NFL Media will produce pregame, postgame and halftime studio programming. NFL Christmas Gameday is going to be executive produced by EverWonder Studio, which is led by founding partner and president Michael Antinoro.
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