American football fans in the UK are set for a major shift in their Christmas Day viewing this year, as the traditional NFL festive fixtures will not be broadcast on cable television. Instead, viewers will need to turn to streaming giants to catch all the gridiron action.
A New Era for Christmas Day NFL
The change marks a significant move in sports broadcasting. This follows Netflix's debut in 2024, when it streamed its first-ever NFL Christmas Gameday. Last year's matchups saw the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-10, while the Baltimore Ravens dominated the Houston Texans 31-2.
This year, the schedule features three compelling games. The action kicks off at 1 p.m. Eastern Time (6 p.m. UK time) with a classic rivalry as the Dallas Cowboys face the Washington Commanders, exclusively on Netflix.
Streaming Schedule and Production Details
Netflix will also carry the second game of the day. At 4:30 p.m. ET (9:30 p.m. UK time), the Minnesota Vikings will host the Detroit Lions. While Netflix is the streaming home for these two games, the production will be handled by CBS Sports. NFL Media will produce the studio programming, including the pre-game, post-game, and halftime shows.
The final game of the festive triple-header will see the Denver Broncos travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs at 8:15 p.m. ET (1:15 a.m. UK time on 26 December). This prime-time showdown will be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
What This Means for UK Viewers
For British fans, this shift underscores the accelerating trend of major live sports moving to streaming platforms. It means reliable subscriptions to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video will be essential for those wanting to watch the games live. The move away from traditional cable and satellite sports channels represents a pivotal moment in how global sports content is distributed, offering both convenience and a new set of considerations for audiences accustomed to linear TV schedules.
With the details now confirmed, supporters are advised to check their subscriptions in advance to ensure they don't miss a snap of the Christmas Day NFL action.
