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SPORTS BROADCASTING

Netflix Christmas Day encore will test NFL’s holiday staying power

Netflix is doubling down on its Christmas Day NFL strategy, aiming to deliver a Super Bowl style presentation for its second holiday doubleheader, even though three of the four teams playing have already been eliminated from playoff contention.

The Games
Cowboys–Commanders (1 p.m. ET) and Lions–Vikings (4:30 p.m. ET) headline the slate, with limited postseason stakes. Detroit still has a slim path as the NFC’s No. 7 seed, but the matchups lack major playoff implications.

The Production Push
Despite that, Netflix is going big: two on-site pregame shows, more than 20 NFL personalities on air, Kelly Clarkson opening the broadcast, and a Snoop Dogg–led halftime show during Lions–Vikings. The approach mirrors last year’s Christmas broadcasts, which drew over 24 million viewers per game.

Why It Matters
The games will test whether star power and presentation, not playoff urgency, can sustain massive holiday audiences. NFL executives believe Christmas could eventually rival Thanksgiving as a marquee viewing day, especially as streaming platforms continue to invest heavily in live sports..

📺️ Read full Front Office Sports article here

NFL FRANCHISE MOVE

Timeline: How the Kansas City Chiefs crossed the state line to Kansas

Kansas lawmakers approved a funding plan to move the Kansas City Chiefs to Kansas, with the team set to begin play near the Legends area and Kansas Speedway in 2031, ending the franchise’s run at the Truman Sports Complex in Missouri. The decision followed years of stalled renovation plans, a failed Jackson County sales tax vote, and Kansas’s use of expanded STAR Bonds to finance up to 70% of a new stadium.

Why It Matters
The move marks one of the most significant cross-border relocations in modern U.S. sports and underscores how state incentives and public financing battles can reshape franchise futures. It also leaves Missouri without a long-term solution for the Royals and highlights the growing leverage teams wield in stadium negotiations.

What’s Next
The Chiefs will begin designing a new domed stadium in Wyandotte County, while Kansas and the team finalize financing details. Missouri officials now face renewed pressure to secure a future home for the Royals as the regional stadium saga continues.

🏈 Read full Yahoo Sports article here

NBA EXPANSION

The NBA is pursuing ownership groups for a potential basketball league in Europe

The NBA is advancing plans to explore a new men’s professional league in Europe with FIBA, as JPMorgan and the Raine Group line up investors and prepare to solicit nonbinding bids as early as next month. Franchise valuations could reach $1 billion, with interest from more than 70 potential investors.

The Opportunity
League executives view European basketball as a large, underdeveloped market, citing 270 million potential fans and strong global star power. The NBA believes a new league could unlock media, sponsorship, and live-event growth while enabling future cross-competition with NBA teams.

What Comes Next
The NBA will begin formal engagement with prospective clubs and owners in January, with a board vote possible in March. If approved, the league could roll out exhibition games and deeper investment in Europe’s basketball ecosystem ahead of a full launch.

🏀 Read full CNBC Sport article here

SPORTS BROADCASTING

Netflix’s Paul vs. Joshua fight averaged 33M viewers globally

Netflix’s Jake Paul–Anthony Joshua boxing match averaged an estimated 33 million global viewers, according to VideoAmp and Netflix, with Joshua’s sixth-round knockout closing the fight just after midnight ET. While well below Paul’s 2024 bout with Mike Tyson, the audience would still rank among the 15 most-watched U.S. TV broadcasts of 2024 if compared to linear television.

The Context
The event marked Netflix’s third live boxing card with Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions and again demonstrated Paul’s ability to draw large global audiences and lift co-main events, including a women’s bout that averaged an estimated 15 million viewers.

The Bigger Bet
The fight fits into Netflix’s expanding push into live sports, following NFL games, tennis exhibitions, and boxing success that helped drive record subscriber growth. With NFL games this Christmas and MLB events arriving in 2026, Netflix continues to test how live sports can scale on a global streaming platform.

🥊 Read full article from Sportico here