Netflix to show NFL Christmas Day games as streaming giant takes HUGE step into live sports... but many fans are NOT happy

The NFL has scheduled two games as part of its marquee Christmas Day schedule to air exclusively on Netflix this December. 

The games on Netflix come as part of a three-year deal with the streaming service to air at least one game on Christmas Day annually through 2026. 

Each NFL game on Christmas Day will cost Netflix $75million, per the Wall Street Journal. 

The NFL can charge the streaming giant that enormous amount due to the viewership of last year's Christmas games, including a Chiefs-Raiders showdown that had an average of 29.6 million viewers. 

The two NFL Christmas games this year are Chiefs-Steelers and Ravens-Texans, per Jordan Schultz.  

Last year, the Chiefs-Raiders Christmas Day game on CBS drew huge television ratings

The NFL Christmas Day schedule from last year also featured 49ers-Ravens and Eagles-Giants

With the games moving from national television to a streaming service, many fans are upset the games will be on another streaming service that they have to pay for.

The NFL broadcasts Thursday Night Football on Prime Video and gave Peacock the exclusive rights to the Chiefs-Dolphins Wild Card playoff game last season. The league also has exclusive content on ESPN+.

Now, a fourth streaming service will be necessary for NFL fans to catch all of the league's action. And that is alongside a cable service or an online television provider like YouTube TV. 

A basic subscription to the five services needed to watch every NFL game will cost fans more than $105 monthly, with YouTube TV being the most costly at $72.99 per month, and Peacock being the least expensive at $5.99.

A basic-level monthly Netflix subscription costs $6.99, with ESPN+ and Prime Video costing $10.99 and $8.99 respectively. 

'Awesome. Now to watch NFL you just need the following: Cable or YouTube TV, Amazon, Netflix, Peacock, NFL network. What a viewing experience,' one fan said on social media. 

'Soon all the NFL games are just going to be on streaming services smh,' another football fan said on X. 'Diluting the product.' 

'The most diabolical part of this is putting it on a service that makes it basically impossible to even change the channel over to the NBA games during commercial breaks,' one NFL fan stated. 

'This is ridiculous @NFL,' another person said, summing up many of the online football fans' reactions to the announcement. 

A handful of social-media messages from NFL fans displeased with the league's Netflix games

The NBA has also placed tremendous value on Christmas Day, typically with five games starting at Noon Eastern time on the holiday.  

Next year, the WWE is moving its flagship weekly show from cable television to Netflix for the first time in its 30-year history. 

The Jake Paul fight against Mike Tyson is also scheduled to air exclusively on Netflix this summer. 

Netflix also tried its hand in the live sports realm with a football-themed event already with the recent Tom Brady roast.