NBA destroyed the NFL on Christmas

[JayMKE]

They don't watch that sh*t. People worldwide don't even understand the rules of our football. We grew up on American football so it’s nothing and 2nd nature to us, but have you ever tried explaining the game to a foreigner who doesn't know what's going on? I've tried several times. It takes 30 minutes or more just to explain the downs and endzone alone. All the penalties, measurements, shotgun, under center, blitzes, timeouts, plays, etc. would take several more hours. If you've never watched soccer or basketball in your life, with the human eye you'll kind of get the gist of what's going on after a few minutes of play. Our football is a completely different story. Most people in foreign lands have no clue what's going on on the field and the stoppage in play after each play is over with.

Estimated 6 to 19 million fans of NFL in China, I imagine the issue for lot of the world is simply access and the lack of international stars. It’ll be a draw for same reason some Americans are curious about soccer, if something is popular then people will want to join in the festivities.


I’ve watched plenty of games with women, I am confident explaining football to Europeans can do done.

NFL also crushes in attendance, college football has even bigger stadiums too. Americans are just bigger sports fans than the rest of the world combined

The NBA is to China what the NFL is to America. The NBA has China in a headlock. If there's 6 to 19 million NFL fans in China greedy azz Goodell and the NFL would've been playing games there a long time ago instead of wasting time playing games in London and Berlin. Hell he would've started up a side league in China if this were a fact. You need a link or two to make this 19 million NFL fans in China sound real.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2019/02/01/the-nfl-is-a-sleeping-giant-in-china/

[Dan33185]

China is such a huge country that there are probably millions of NFL fans there too.

They don't watch that sh*t. People worldwide don't even understand the rules of our football. We grew up on American football so its nothing and 2nd nature to us, but have you ever tried explaining the game to a foreigner who doesn't know what's going on? I've tried several times. It takes 30 minutes or more just to explain the downs and endzone alone. All the penalties, measurements, shotgun, under center, blitzes, timeouts, plays, etc. would take several more hours. If you've never watched soccer or basketball in your life, with the human eye you'll kind of get the gist of what's going on after a few minutes of play. Our football is a completely different story. Most people in foreign lands have no clue what's going on on the field and the stoppage in play after each play is over with.

I get soccer, it's basically running around for 2 hours, players flopping every so often, and if you get really lucky, you might see a goal.

[Clemenza]

China is such a huge country that there are probably millions of NFL fans there too.

They don't watch that sh*t. People worldwide don't even understand the rules of our football. We grew up on American football so its nothing and 2nd nature to us, but have you ever tried explaining the game to a foreigner who doesn't know what's going on? I've tried several times. It takes 30 minutes or more just to explain the downs and endzone alone. All the penalties, measurements, shotgun, under center, blitzes, timeouts, plays, etc. would take several more hours. If you've never watched soccer or basketball in your life, with the human eye you'll kind of get the gist of what's going on after a few minutes of play. Our football is a completely different story. Most people in foreign lands have no clue what's going on on the field and the stoppage in play after each play is over with.

I get soccer, it's basically running around for 2 hours, players flopping every so often, and if you get really lucky, you might see a goal.

Agreed

[RRyder823]

The NFL is the richest league on the planet simply because of their TV contracts. The EPL(English Premier League) is the most watched league on the planet. The NBA is right behind the EPL. But yes, the NFL pulls in the most money out of everyone. They're TV made, operated, and optimized to the highest degree possible. Their an extremely fined tuned North American phenomenon of an operation that rakes in billions.

That statement is based on absolutely nothing. If you have any actual data to back it up then by all means please share and I'll be glad to take a look.


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Soccer/football is the world's biggest sport and basketball is second right behind soccer. The NBA is shown in over 200 plus countries. Strictly money wise, the NFL makes more than any league in the world because of their US TV contracts. What's the issue?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_sports_leagues_by_revenue

How bout that your saying basketball and the NBA as if they're the same thing.

Basketball may be the 2nd most popular sport in the world. But that doesn't mean the NBA is the 2nd most popular league in the world and considering we are talking about indivual leagues that's kind of an important distinction.

The NFL is a more popular LEAGUE then the NBA by a pretty wide margin. And that's OK.

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[Clemenza]

Estimated 6 to 19 million fans of NFL in China, I imagine the issue for lot of the world is simply access and the lack of international stars. It’ll be a draw for same reason some Americans are curious about soccer, if something is popular then people will want to join in the festivities.


I’ve watched plenty of games with women, I am confident explaining football to Europeans can do done.

NFL also crushes in attendance, college football has even bigger stadiums too. Americans are just bigger sports fans than the rest of the world combined

The NBA is to China what the NFL is to America. The NBA has China in a headlock. If there's 6 to 19 million NFL fans in China greedy azz Goodell and the NFL would've been playing games there a long time ago instead of wasting time playing games in London and Berlin. Hell he would've started up a side league in China if this were a fact. You need a link or two to make this 19 million NFL fans in China sound real.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2019/02/01/the-nfl-is-a-sleeping-giant-in-china/

They might have been on to something but the that article is from 2019. Covid came the year after and Trump and the world blamed China for it, rightfully so I guess, and that killed off everything else relationship wise. A NFL Shanghai or Beijing game would kill off all the conservatives who love the NFL here in the State so that's a no go. All good though. I'm just debating and tired of all the cheap shots the NBA is getting these days.

[LockoutSeason]

Read on Twitter

[ItsDanger]

Lot of people getting exposed in this thread.

[Clemenza]

That statement is based on absolutely nothing. If you have any actual data to back it up then by all means please share and I'll be glad to take a look.


Sent from my SM-S918U using RealGM mobile app

Soccer/football is the world's biggest sport and basketball is second right behind soccer. The NBA is shown in over 200 plus countries. Strictly money wise, the NFL makes more than any league in the world because of their US TV contracts. What's the issue?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_professional_sports_leagues_by_revenue

How bout that your saying basketball and the NBA as if they're the same thing.

Basketball may be the 2nd most popular sport in the world. But that doesn't mean the NBA is the 2nd most popular league in the world and considering we are talking about indivual leagues that's kind of an important distinction.

The NFL is a more popular LEAGUE then the NBA by a pretty wide margin. And that's OK.

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In America it is, not worldwide! That's my only point. The NBA is bigger than the NFL outside of America and that's a fact. Basketball is the 2nd most popular sport behind soccer and the NBA is the biggest and richest basketball league on the planet, period! If you want to be a star in soccer you have to go play in Europe. EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, etc. If you want to be a basketball star you have to come to America and play in the NBA. That's how its set up. Is the NBA bigger than the NFL in America, hell no! The NFL is the king in America and rules all. America and its media will tell that the NBA isn't sh*t and falling off, but this is far from the case. The NBA is on top of the mountain for all things basketball worldwide. No disrespect to Euro League and all that, but it is what it is.

https://www.sportspro.com/insights/analysis/nba-tv-rights-revenue-global-popularity-data-ampere-analysis/

[Rainwater]

Estimated 6 to 19 million fans of NFL in China, I imagine the issue for lot of the world is simply access and the lack of international stars. It’ll be a draw for same reason some Americans are curious about soccer, if something is popular then people will want to join in the festivities.


I’ve watched plenty of games with women, I am confident explaining football to Europeans can do done.

NFL also crushes in attendance, college football has even bigger stadiums too. Americans are just bigger sports fans than the rest of the world combined

The NBA is to China what the NFL is to America. The NBA has China in a headlock. If there's 6 to 19 million NFL fans in China greedy azz Goodell and the NFL would've been playing games there a long time ago instead of wasting time playing games in London and Berlin. Hell he would've started up a side league in China if this were a fact. You need a link or two to make this 19 million NFL fans in China sound real.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2019/02/01/the-nfl-is-a-sleeping-giant-in-china/

This article was from 7 years ago.

[JayMKE]

The NBA is to China what the NFL is to America. The NBA has China in a headlock. If there's 6 to 19 million NFL fans in China greedy azz Goodell and the NFL would've been playing games there a long time ago instead of wasting time playing games in London and Berlin. Hell he would've started up a side league in China if this were a fact. You need a link or two to make this 19 million NFL fans in China sound real.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2019/02/01/the-nfl-is-a-sleeping-giant-in-china/

They might have been on to something but the that article is from 2019. Covid came the year after and Trump and the world blamed China for it, rightfully so I guess, and that killed off everything else relationship wise. A NFL Shanghai or Beijing game would kill off all the conservatives who love the NFL here in the State so that's a no go. All good though. I'm just debating and tired of all the cheap shots the NBA is getting these days.

Wouldn’t that nadir in relations be an issue for the NBA too tho? My point is that the NFL has a lot of potential to expand internationally and will most likely be the first intercontinental sports league with a future franchise being in London not that far away which could just be the start of international expansion. I think if you build it they will come.

[bmurph128]

Now let's do the ratings worldwide with NFL vs NBA. Majority of the world doesnt give 2 craps about the NFL lol.

The "majority of the world" doesn't care about any sports league.

The only way any other sport can compete with the NFL is by taking that sport in its totality. The NBA or premier league - just get massively destroyed by the NFL no matter how you slice it. Whether you look at revenue, ratings or the value of the teams - you'll see the Warriors and a handful of premier league teams - but roughly 32/40 of the most valuable sports franchise on the planet are the 32 NFL teams.

It's not debatable and it's a complete and total massacre.

Saying it's less popular in the rest of the world means nothing. The premier league and the NBA can be more popular in other countries - the NFL is gaining in popularity every year anyways

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[NO-KG-AI]

The NFL is far and away the most profitable sports league, and has a small amount of games and a relatively small international footprint. Their growth potential is kinda scary, because if they even get a mediocre foothold in other countries, their already massive lead is gonna grow.

[Wallace_Wallace]

Estimated 6 to 19 million fans of NFL in China, I imagine the issue for lot of the world is simply access and the lack of international stars. It’ll be a draw for same reason some Americans are curious about soccer, if something is popular then people will want to join in the festivities.


I’ve watched plenty of games with women, I am confident explaining football to Europeans can do done.

NFL also crushes in attendance, college football has even bigger stadiums too. Americans are just bigger sports fans than the rest of the world combined

The NBA is to China what the NFL is to America. The NBA has China in a headlock. If there's 6 to 19 million NFL fans in China greedy azz Goodell and the NFL would've been playing games there a long time ago instead of wasting time playing games in London and Berlin. Hell he would've started up a side league in China if this were a fact. You need a link or two to make this 19 million NFL fans in China sound real.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2019/02/01/the-nfl-is-a-sleeping-giant-in-china/

Wait? The NBA has China in a headlock? I think he means the other way around?

[Clemenza]

The NFL is far and away the most profitable sports league, and has a small amount of games and a relatively small international footprint. Their growth potential is kinda scary, because if they even get a mediocre foothold in other countries, their already massive lead is gonna grow.

It could grow but said countries will need "football infrastructure" first and foremost. Pee wee, Pop Warner, Junior High, High School, College, helmets, pads, jerseys, football fields, a ton of kids playing, coaches, etc. One of the reasons soccer/football and basketball are worldwide is because all it takes is a pair of shoes and a ball, plus you can play by yourself and get better. Our football is a much much bigger operation, but you never know. Maybe a country like Germany can get the ball rolling some day. London could get a NFL team but not sure if English kids want to play the sport on a grand scale. I've been to London a couple of times and its football(soccer) nirvana.

[DreamTeam09]

lol lol football is not gonna grow outside of North America, maybe the UK, but football infrastructure will never be there because it's too cost intensive to even start up. Football can dominate NA and that's cool, maybe not Christmas

[CallMeKahn]

Read on Twitter

Over 300 combined 3pt attempts? Okay.

[bwgood77]

Congrats for the NBA averaging 5.25 viewers, a great day for them, but NFL crushed it.

Netflix's NFL doubleheader 'most-streamed NFL game' ever

Netflix's Christmas Day NFL doubleheader, featuring the Kansas Chiefs' win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens' blowout of the Houston Texans, brought in an estimated 65 million viewers across the country, the streaming platform announced in a press release, citing Nielsen.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/media/2024/12/26/nfl-nba-christmas-day-viewership/77242357007/

[G35]

I really think people underestimate the power of Fantasy Football. That is what is powering the NFL. Yes, the NFL has loyal fans of the game and individual teams but that would not be enough to keep interest. I grew up an Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders fan and it was easy to be a Raider fan in the 70's, 80's, early 90's and in the Rich Gannon era.

But the Raiders have not been good for a long time, over a decade imo, and it does not look like they are going to get better unless they can draft a QB. Look at how Patrick Mahomes has now made the Chiefs an elite all time franchise in just six years. As a Raider fan I don't even hope to win the division much less win a Super Bowl because the Chiefs are winning every year.

But I do play fantasy football and I am in at least 3 to 4 leagues every year. Three of them are leagues with the same people now for about 15+ years and everybody tends to come back. There may be one or two guys who leave because of life changes i.e. a baby or new job, but for the most part its the same guys.

We play in $200 leagues with a $50 a week high score payout and whatever 1st, 2nd, and 3rd get, something like $750 for the winner IIRC. So even if your favorite team is trash (like my Raiders) I am still heavily invested in watching the NFL and every single game. Then there are other gambling avenues that I don't participate in like FanDuel. Every week guys send out a FanDuel link that some people participate in weekly.

The NFL knows that fantasy football is a huge part of their success that they created a cable channel just for fantasy football players; The Red Zone. Whenever a teams offense gets to the opponents 20 yard line they switch to that game, also no commercials, straight football for eight hours. So its hard to even go take a piss because something exciting is always happening.

The NBA cannot duplicate fantasy football.

Neither can baseball, soccer, golf, hockey etc for various reasons. The primary reason is that the NFL is on a weekly basis and it is not overly complicated with positions like baseball. Fantasy basketball is useless because of the load management.

TL;DR What the other sports need is a reason to watch games other than your local/favorite team, the NFL has fantasy football.

[bwgood77]

I guess for averages, the NFL only had about 24.2 million viewers on average, compared to the 5.25 million or so average for NBA. But still a big increase for NBA from last year and a bit of a decrease from NFL last year. The larger numbers I posted were number of viewers that tuned in to NFL for at least some time...

Netflix’s two games averaged 24.2 million viewers, according to Nielsen fast national ratings (Nielsen is providing U.S. data for the games, as the NFL likes audience measurement to be uniform across all of its media partners). The early afternoon matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers posted 24.1 million viewers, and the Baltimore Ravens’ win over the Houston Texans came in at 24.3 million (both figures include over-the-air broadcasts in the teams’ local markets). The Netflix audience peaked at 27 million viewers during Beyoncé’s halftime performance at the Ravens-Texans game.

Nielsen and Netflix say 65 million people watched at least a minute of the streamer’s NFL presentation.

“Bringing our members this record-breaking day of two NFL games was the best Christmas gift we could have delivered,” said Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer. “We’re thankful for our partnership with the NFL, all of our wonderful on-air talent, and let’s please not forget the electrifying Beyoncé and the brilliant Mariah Carey.”

Added Hans Schroeder, executive vp media distribution for the NFL, “We’re thrilled with our first Christmas Gameday on Netflix with NFL games being streamed to a global audience.” Netflix says it will release its own worldwide data on the NFL games next week, which could give a more like-to-like comparison to its most recent big sporting event, November’s Jake Paul-Mike Tyson boxing match.

The two games on Wednesday brought in about 5 million fewer viewers than did last year’s Christmas afternoon games, which drew 29.48 million and 29.02 million viewers on CBS and Fox, with 81.4 million people watching at least one minute. (A primetime Monday Night Football game on ABC and ESPN last year delivered 27.61 million viewers.) They are, however, at the higher end of regular-season contests this year, trailing the three Thanksgiving games (which averaged better than 33 million viewers), the season opener on Sept. 5 (29.2 million across all platforms), and several showcase games on CBS and Fox in the late Sunday afternoon window.

The previous high for a streaming-exclusive NFL game was 23 million viewers for Peacock’s wild card playoff telecast in January. Amazon’s Prime Video is averaging 13.34 million viewers for its Thursday Night Football games this season (up 12 percent from a year ago), and Peacock pulled in 14 million viewers for a game in the opening week of the season.

Wednesday’s games were the first in a three-year deal between the NFL and Netflix to stream games on Christmas.

In the NBA, the Christmas lineup averaged 5.25 million viewers on ABC and ESPN, a big increase from the all-time low of 2.85 million in 2023. ABC simulcast all five games this year, whereas the broadcaster only carried two a year ago due in part to its Monday Night Football obligation.

A primetime matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors led the slate with 7.76 million viewers, nearly six times the average for the comparable broadcast window a year ago. Lakers-Warriors was the most-watched NBA regular season game since 2019.

The other four games all improved on their year-ago numbers as well, with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks drawing the second-largest hoops audience of the day at 5.16 million viewers. The New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs averaged 4.91 million viewers, followed by the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics (4.38 million) and Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns (3.84 million). The latter was the biggest tune-in ever for the Christmas NBA nightcap.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-nfl-christmas-tv-ratings-1236094025/

[___Rand___]

I don't think that's quite what happened. Check this out:

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/netflix-breaks-streaming-record-christmas-174532882.html

The two NFL games streamed Christmas Day on Netflix received about 24 million viewers each, the company said.

Viewership peaked at more than 27 million during Beyoncé’s halftime performance of her newest album “Cowboy Carter,” which wooed a Houston holiday crowd filled with music and football fans alike.

That doesn't sound like "destroyed". Seems NFL was competitive. Beyonce helped.

I do agree, NFL needs to stay off the NBA turf though.