Jim O’Donnell: Netflix and the NFL set for a Yuletide thrashing of the NBA on ABC/ESPN
A SMALL HOLIDAY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP will commune via TV remotes today.
It's called, “People Watching NBA Games on Christmas Day.”
The numbers of that mild bunch will be markedly lower than the football viewing pioneers tuning in to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs-Steelers (noon) and Lamar Jackson and the Ravens-Texans (3:30 p.m.) on Netflix.
The ABC/ESPN combine will air five consecutive NBA contests beginning with the Knicks-Spurs (11 a.m.) and dragging the foul line all the way to the Nuggets-Suns (9:30 p.m.).
THAT'S CLOSE TO 13 NONSTOP HOURS of a professional game that has devolved into a tedious blend of amazing athleticism, generally boring plot lines and open-air gunnery worthy of the British at Fort McHenry.
The Netflix inaugural is the latest attempt by NFL media distribution imagineers to stay ahead of the sports profit posse. The massive streamer has more than 280 million subscribers globally, including close to 85 million in the United States and Canada.
Today's two-pack will be presented in five languages: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and German.
NETFLIX IS PAYING THE NFL a reported $75M per game for the doubleheader. The outlet has outsourced game production to CBS and wraparound programming to NFL Media.
Bosses have also been quick to promise none of the technical glitches that plagued the tap-and-putty pillow exhibition between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul on Nov. 14.
THE BROADCAST BOOTHS SHADE TOWARD a family affair with a touch of network ecumenism. Ian Eagle — he of the red-hot broadcast bones — will call the opener alongside CBS mates Nate Burleson and J.J. Watt.
For the Ravens-Texans, son Noah Eagle — also based at CBS — will work next to the free-floating Greg Olsen, currently biding his time as Tom Brady's No. 2 at Fox.
(Deepest tea-leaf readers are insisting that the presence of Olsen implies he may parachute in next season if CBS chieftains can figure an economical way to dump the catatonic Tony Romo.)
HERE'S A CHRISTMAS DAY BET for those with tube chase fever:
Even with the probable audience diminishment because of the NFL presentations on paywalled Netflix, when final tabs are in, either of the pro football games will draw viewership larger than the sum of the five NBA games on ABC/ESPN.
On a legacied network, that wager is a surer thing than squirrels conducting holiday searches on the empty acres of the old Arlington Park.
LAST Dec. 25, an NBA quintet — even with LeBron James, Steph Curry, Nikola Jokic and all — drew a little more than a net of 14M watchers. BOS-LAL topped that fivesome with 5M.
Totals for the NFL were: Chiefs-Raiders (CBS, 29.2M), Eagles-Giants (Fox, 29M) and Niners-Ravens (ESPN, 27.1M).
Strongly suggesting that even on Netflix, the NFL will continue its holiday rule today.
And the NBA will continue to fire on Fort McHenry.
STREET-BEATIN':
Unless Lions OC Ben Johnson — or a nominee, such as his wife — gets a small percentage of ownership of the Bears, he's an absolute fool to become head coach amid the career-breaking chaos in Chicago. One of his prime representatives has intrinsic knowledge of the ways and mounting moans at Halas Hall and that's certainly not going to aid any campaign to get Johnson to Lake Forest. …
Speaking of Johnson, the fake fumble by Jared Goff at Soldier Field Sunday — and ensuing TD pass to Sam LaPorta — was cute, but why waste it on a warren of woebegones like the Bears? Especially with critical late-season games at San Francisco (Sunday) and vs. Minnesota (concluding Week 18) straight ahead? …
TV golf highlight of the month was Charlie Woods' hole-in-one in the final round of the PNC Championship. The 15-year-old rolled in a 7-iron from 178 yards on the par-3 4th at Orlando's Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. Partner Tiger Woods missed seeing his son's tee shot live because “he was taking a break.” …
DePaul radio analyst Dave Corzine is spending Christmas Day at a north suburban hospital while wading through some maintenance mechanics. The all-time Chicago basketball great has been operating with a heavy heart since the sad passing of BFF George Demos last month. …
Devotees of justice are cheering news that the jersey of Terrence Shannon Jr. — No. 0 — will be raised to the State Farm Center rafters at Illinois on Feb. 15. The Illini play Michigan State on Fox that evening. Shannon continues to try and crack the rotation of the Timberwolves.
The use of a rare fair-catch free kick by Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers to help beat Denver last Thursday prompted Bruce Iverson to remind that the Bears once used a similar tactic to down dreaded Green Bay. The date was Nov. 3, 1968, and Chicago kicker Mac Percival's 43-yard open 3-pointer with 20 seconds left resulted in a 13-10 win. (Percival was a basketball player from Texas Tech whose model-worthy wife had the regally given birth name of Lady Jane.) …
And Gary Duch, on Christmas wishes for the White Sox: “Find an A.I. version of Andy the Clown and have him fill out the daily lineup cards.”
Jim O'Donnell's Sports and Media column appears each week on Sunday and Wednesday. Reach him at jimodonnelldh@yahoo.com. All communications may be considered for publication.