Streaming's Disruption of Holiday Sports Traditions

The Sports Media Podcast · December 23, 2025 · Listen to Original Episode →

Original Title:

TL;DR

Netflix's NFL Christmas doubleheader leverages global reach to introduce new fans and establish a holiday tradition, potentially rivaling Thanksgiving's league significance.
The NBA's Christmas Day schedule serves as a crucial showcase for marquee teams and stars, acting as an unofficial kickoff to the regular season for casual viewers.
Increased NFL streaming on platforms like Netflix offers global accessibility and a potentially more inclusive viewing experience, despite some fan concerns about accessibility.
The emergence of a potential NBA rivalry between the Spurs and Thunder, fueled by young talent and recent matchups, signals future competitive intrigue.
Basketball's growing popularity in Canada, evidenced by increased participation and the influence of stars like Vince Carter, indicates a significant expansion beyond hockey.
The Pop-Tarts Bowl trophy is considered the best of bowl season, adding a unique element to a matchup featuring exciting players like Haynes King.

Deep Dive

Netflix's expansion into live NFL programming represents a significant shift in sports broadcasting, leveraging its global reach and established user base to create new holiday traditions and attract a wider audience. While this move offers unprecedented accessibility and a party-like atmosphere, it also signals a broader trend towards streaming exclusivity that raises concerns about fan access and the evolving media landscape.

The second iteration of Netflix's NFL Christmas doubleheader builds on the success of its inaugural event, aiming for an even higher-energy experience by bringing production directly to the game site. Host Kay Adams emphasizes the global appeal, noting how the platform allows families worldwide to connect with her work. This expansion into live sports on Christmas Day mirrors and potentially rivals the established tradition of NFL games on Thanksgiving, suggesting a future where major sporting events are increasingly integrated into holiday celebrations across multiple platforms. Adams's personal journey from NFL Network to a more flexible role with FanDuel highlights a strategic pivot toward content creation and interviewing, enabled by partners supportive of diverse media opportunities. This flexibility allows her to participate in high-profile events like the Netflix games, underscoring the evolving nature of sports media careers. The proliferation of streaming platforms like Amazon, Peacock, and Netflix hosting NFL games indicates a fundamental shift away from traditional linear television, a move that, while expanding reach, presents challenges for viewers like Tony Romo who have expressed frustration with accessing these exclusive streams.

The NBA's traditional dominance on Christmas Day continues, with ESPN announcer Mark Jones highlighting its status as "the NBA's day," a showcase for star players and marquee matchups that serves as an unofficial kickoff to the regular season for many viewers. This year's slate includes a highly anticipated rematch between the Spurs and Thunder, a budding rivalry underscored by the Spurs' recent victory ending the Thunder's win streak. Jones notes that while a true rivalry requires more history, the young talent on both teams, including Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, promises compelling future matchups. The broadcast strategy for these games involves not only calling the action but also educating a broader audience, including casual viewers, about the players' stories and journeys, bridging the gap between established fans and newcomers. The NBA's presence on Christmas is a testament to its enduring appeal and ability to draw viewership across diverse demographics, a tradition that continues to evolve with new broadcast technologies and storytelling approaches. Beyond the games, the Pop-Tarts Bowl trophy is highlighted as a unique and notable prize in college football, reflecting the increasing creativity and branding opportunities within postseason events. Basketball's growing popularity in Canada, particularly following the influence of Vince Carter and Steve Nash, demonstrates its expansion beyond traditional Canadian sports like hockey, with more youth participation now evident in the sport.

The integration of streaming services into major sports leagues signals a significant disruption in how fans consume content, offering greater accessibility and new traditions while simultaneously creating potential barriers to entry for some. The success of Netflix's NFL games and the NBA's continued Christmas Day dominance underscore the strategic importance of these platforms in reaching global audiences and shaping future viewing habits.

Action Items

Audit NBA Christmas Day broadcast: Identify 3-5 potential viewer access issues (e.g., streaming errors, platform availability) to inform future broadcast strategies.
Create NBA broadcast runbook: Define 5 required sections (e.g., player narratives, historical context, rule explanations) to ensure consistent storytelling for casual viewers.
Measure NBA broadcast impact: Track viewership for 3-5 specific games to assess the effectiveness of different storytelling approaches.
Evaluate NFL streaming adoption: Analyze fan feedback on 2-3 streaming-exclusive games to gauge readiness for wider adoption.

Key Quotes

"Oh my gosh a global audience hearing an outpouring of nfl fandom we had patrick mahomes and the chiefs and of course beyoncé and all these big stars and and just being a part of something that's new and fresh uh netflix did it so well and it was sort of a party atmosphere and i think we're going to even double down on that for year two i think it's going to be so high energy i love to being in the studio in la but now we're going to be in the action getting to be at the game is always my favorite part of covering any nfl game and doing that on christmas with the people i get to hang out with as part of the netflix family is going to be extra special but last year yeah it was high energy it was new um and and there were some great games as there are this year"

Kay Adams highlights the success and unique atmosphere of Netflix's first NFL Christmas games. She emphasizes the global reach and the "party atmosphere" that Netflix cultivated, suggesting an even higher energy level for the second iteration. Adams also expresses her personal preference for being at the game itself, adding an extra layer of excitement for covering the Christmas Day event with the Netflix team.

"I think the biggest gift man, you know what I'll say I think the international games were a really big gift I really really enjoyed those we had seven I got to go to the one in London not even a great game Broncos Jets not the best game right loved the energy love watching I'm like proud of the growth of the sport in that way and getting the most fervent fans introducing the fans growing the game so I think the biggest gift is this seeming growth of the international slate and what that and what that looks like new games Ireland Spain yeah it's so fun and Madrid you know just being in those cities is beautiful and being a part of those games and I like the getting up early I do I'm a morning person and I live on the west coast I enjoy that so I think that has been a real gift"

Kay Adams identifies the expansion of international NFL games as a significant gift to fans this season. She notes the positive energy and growth of the sport observed at these games, including her personal experience at the London matchup. Adams views this international slate as a key indicator of the sport's increasing global reach and popularity.

"It's special Christmas is the NBA's day still I know that you know other people have tried to encroach on it but it's still I think when you look at tradition people get together they have their turkey and then they sit down and watch you know a full menu of NBA basketball games and I know for the players you know I've spoken with players across the league for many years they still consider it an honor to play on Christmas day"

Mark Jones emphasizes the enduring tradition and significance of the NBA on Christmas Day. He states that despite attempts by other entities to claim the holiday, it remains the NBA's day, marked by families gathering to watch a full schedule of games. Jones also points out that playing on Christmas is still considered an honor by NBA players.

"We can call it a rivalry right because of what just happened a few days ago it may be a little bit premature to call it a real time tested rivalry because I think you need a little bit more history behind it and a little bit more acrimony we don't have that yet but it's showing promising signs of potentially developing when you look at some of the comments of Wemby in particular him citing ethical quote unquote basketball I'm not sure that he was trying to throw shade at Shay and SGA and the Thunder but it may have come off that way"

Mark Jones discusses the developing rivalry between the Spurs and the Thunder, acknowledging that while recent events suggest a rivalry, it may be too early to definitively label it as "time-tested." He notes the need for more history and animosity to solidify such a designation. Jones also touches on potential underlying tensions, referencing Victor Wembanyama's comments about "ethical basketball" and how they might be perceived in relation to the Thunder.

"Basketball has always had a pretty strong presence in Canada especially in Toronto and the southern Ontario area there've been players going back years Leo Rautins who was a NBA draft choice of the Philadelphia 76ers Jamal McGloire there's a long lineage of very talented Canadian basketball players and my personal opinion is that people are just finding out in the last like 10 to 15 years it's always been there even pre Steve Nash in the mid to late 90s"

Mark Jones asserts that basketball has a long-standing and significant presence in Canada, particularly in Toronto and Southern Ontario. He highlights a history of talented Canadian basketball players, predating the widespread recognition of figures like Steve Nash. Jones believes that the sport's popularity and the depth of its talent pool have only recently become more widely known.

Resources

External Resources

Books

"Quarterback" - Mentioned as a favorite Netflix sports documentary.
"Cowboys" - Mentioned as a favorite Netflix sports documentary for its late 80s/early 90s nostalgia.
"Drive to Survive" - Mentioned as a Netflix sports documentary that brought a sport to new audiences.

Articles & Papers

"The Sports Media Podcast" - Mentioned as the podcast hosting the interviews.

People

Kay Adams - Guest, discussed Netflix's NFL doubleheader and her role in sports.
Mark Jones - Guest, ESPN announcer discussing NBA Christmas Day games and the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Austin Karp - Host of The Sports Media Podcast, SBJ media reporter.
Patrick Mahomes - Mentioned in relation to Netflix's NFL doubleheader and the Chiefs.
Beyoncé - Mentioned in relation to Netflix's NFL doubleheader.
Snoop Dogg - Mentioned in relation to Netflix's NFL doubleheader.
Roger Goodell - Mentioned in relation to the NFL on Christmas Day.
Tony Cornties - Mentioned as complaining about not watching Prime Video.
Michael Irvin - Mentioned in relation to the Cowboys documentary and as a co-host.
Jerry Jones - Mentioned in relation to the Cowboys.
Devin McCourty - Mentioned as a potential guest.
Austin Ekeler - Mentioned as a potential guest.
Mariah Carey - Mentioned as a singer.
Kelly Clarkson - Mentioned as a singer.
Princess Diana - Mentioned in relation to "The Crown."
Von Alexander - Mentioned as the father of Neil Alexander Walker.
Neil Alexander Walker - Mentioned as a cousin of Shay.
J.B. Bickerstaff - Mentioned as a broadcast partner for the Spurs-Thunder game.
Katie George - Mentioned as a sideline reporter for the Spurs-Thunder game.
Steph Curry - Mentioned in relation to a Warriors game.
Leo Rautins - Mentioned as a Canadian basketball player drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Jamal Mcgloire - Mentioned as a Canadian basketball player.
Jamal Murray - Mentioned as a Toronto area basketball player.
Andrew Wiggins - Mentioned as a Toronto area basketball player.
Tristan Thompson - Mentioned as a Toronto area basketball player.
Vince Carter - Mentioned as inspiring Canadian basketball players.
Steve Nash - Mentioned in relation to Canadian basketball.
Bear Bachmeier - Mentioned as the quarterback for BYU in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Haynes King - Mentioned as an exciting player for Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Matt Ryan - Mentioned as a broadcaster and former player.
Nate Burleson - Mentioned as a broadcaster.
Philip Rivers - Mentioned in relation to injuries and the Chiefs.

Organizations & Institutions

Netflix - Mentioned for its NFL doubleheader and sports documentaries.
NFL Network - Mentioned in relation to Kay Adams' departure.
ESPN - Mentioned as a broadcaster of NBA Christmas Day games.
SBJ - Mentioned as the media outlet for the podcast.
FanDuel - Mentioned as Kay Adams' partner.
Chiefs - Mentioned in relation to Netflix's NFL doubleheader and the NFL Christmas game.
Cowboys - Mentioned in relation to Netflix's NFL doubleheader and the NFL Christmas game.
Commanders - Mentioned in relation to the NFL Christmas game.
New England Patriots - Mentioned as an example team for performance analysis.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) - Mentioned as a data source.
Amazon - Mentioned for streaming NFL games.
Peacock - Mentioned for streaming NFL games.
CBS - Mentioned as a broadcast partner for the NFL on Netflix.
New York City - Mentioned in relation to local broadcasts.
NBA (National Basketball Association) - Mentioned for its Christmas Day games.
Providence Steamrollers - Mentioned in relation to NBA history.
Oklahoma City Thunder - Mentioned in relation to NBA Christmas Day games and a recent win streak.
San Antonio Spurs - Mentioned in relation to NBA Christmas Day games and a recent game against the Thunder.
Philadelphia 76ers - Mentioned in relation to Leo Rautins.
Toronto Raptors - Mentioned in relation to Canadian basketball.
BYU - Mentioned in relation to the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Georgia Tech - Mentioned in relation to the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
Buffalo - Mentioned in relation to Canadian basketball players attending college.
Canisius College - Mentioned in relation to Canadian basketball players attending college.
Niagara University - Mentioned in relation to Canadian basketball players attending college.
Saint Bonaventure University - Mentioned in relation to Canadian basketball players attending college.
York University - Mentioned in relation to Mark Jones' sports hall of fame induction.

Websites & Online Resources

Netflix - Mentioned for its NFL doubleheader and sports documentaries.
Prime Video - Mentioned in relation to Tony Cornties' complaint.
Amazon Prime Video - Mentioned in relation to Tony Cornties' complaint.
FanDuel - Mentioned as Kay Adams' partner.
YouTube - Mentioned in relation to Kay Adams' work.

Other Resources

NFL Christmas game day - Mentioned as a new holiday tradition.
Pop-Tarts Bowl - Mentioned as a bowl game with a notable trophy.
NBA Emirates Cup - Mentioned in relation to the NBA Christmas Day games.
EYBL AAU circuit - Mentioned in relation to players' early careers.