NFL Christmas Day Games: Current Schedule and Broadcast
Yes, the NFL regularly schedules games on Christmas Day when December 25 falls on a Tuesday or Thursday. In the 2024 season, the NFL placed three games on Christmas, a pattern consistent with recent years when the holiday lands on a weekday. The league typically features an afternoon doubleheader followed by an evening game, all broadcast across CBS, Fox, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video. Amazon holds exclusive rights to one Christmas game under its Thursday Night Football deal, a key part of its NFL media strategy learn more here.
NFL Christmas games generate significant advertising revenue, with a 30-second spot costing several million dollars. The league uses the holiday window to drive streaming subscriptions and maximize inventory during a period when other major sports leagues are in off-season or pre-season phases. For investors tracking sports media rights valuations, the Christmas schedule is a measurable data point in NFL broadcast deal negotiations.
Soccer Matches on December 25: Premier League and Global Leagues
Top-tier European soccer leagues, including the English Premier League, do not play on Christmas Day. The EPL traditionally runs a full fixture list from August through May with a winter break, but December 25 is not a matchday. Instead, Premier League clubs often train or rest on December 25, with fixtures resuming on December 26, known as Boxing Day read more here.
In contrast, some lower-division and international leagues schedule matches on December 25, particularly in countries with strong domestic football cultures. For example, certain leagues in South America and parts of Europe have held Christmas fixtures, though these are exceptions rather than the norm. For sports finance analysts, the absence of Premier League games on Christmas highlights the league's focus on player welfare and commercial scheduling around global broadcast windows.
Revenue, Broadcast Rights, and Holiday Sports Economics
Christmas Day as a Revenue Event
Holiday sports programming is a high-value segment for broadcasters and leagues. The NFL's Christmas games contribute to the league's annual media rights portfolio, which is valued at over $100 billion across multi-year deals with networks and streaming platforms. Amazon's investment in NFL rights, including Christmas fixtures, reflects a broader trend of tech companies acquiring premium sports inventory to attract subscribers explore the details here.
For individual clubs, holiday games can boost merchandise sales and in-stadium revenue, though the NFL and Premier League prioritize scheduling logic over maximizing single-day income. The NFL's Christmas slate is part of a wider calendar that includes Thanksgiving and New Year's, creating multiple high-demand windows that increase the league's bargaining power in future media deals. This pattern is visible in the latest collective bargaining agreements and broadcast contract structures reported by industry sources SEC filings reference.