The NFL Christmas games are taking place on, you guessed it, Christmas. And if you’re anything like millions of people around the world then you’re probably wondering: what time does the Beyoncé show begin?

But is that all you really need to know? What about the sporty bits? The odds of a Taylor Swift sighting? And how long you’ll have to stream it on Netflix before it disappears? Read on for all the answers …

What time is kickoff for Chiefs v Steelers?

The kickoff time for the Kansas City v Pittsburgh game at Acrisure Stadium is 1pm ET (6pm GMT).

But you’ll want to get to the couch about 10 minutes early if you’re interested in seeing Mariah Carey perform a special pre-taped version of her 16-time platinum single All I Want for Christmas Is You.

Will Taylor Swift be there?

The tabs are reporting Taylor and All-Pro boyfriend Travis Kelce will be spending the holiday together with both of their families. So it’s a safe bet she’ll be at the stadium on Wednesday, possibly alongside field hockey coach and Rogan-toppling podcaster Kylie Kelce.

What time is kickoff for Ravens v Texans?

The kickoff time for the Baltimore v Houston matchup at NRG Stadium is 4.30pm ET (9.30pm GMT). And the streets are saying an all-conquering pop star might be at that game as well.

How can I watch or stream the NFL Christmas Day games?

The broadcast will stream live globally on Netflix starting with a pre-game show at 11am ET (4pm GMT) at no additional cost to subscribers.

Additionally, the games will be carried on free-to-air CBS in the competing teams’ cities and on US mobile devices with NFL+.

How much did Netflix pay for NFL Christmas games? And why are they getting into live sports?

Netflix has signed a three-year agreement with the NFL to exclusively stream Christmas Day games from 2024 through 2026. The streamer is paying approximately $75m per game in the first year. CBS Sports has been tapped to produce the broadcasts on a one-year contract.

What does Netflix get for their $150m? For starters, in a media landscape where TV ratings are falling off across the board, live sports continue to buck the trend. That’s caught the attention of media and tech giants like Amazon (who bought into the NFL) and Apple (who bought Messi), amid several other billion-dollar bets on sports programming as a driver for subscriptions.

In addition to the NFL games, Netflix has engaged in other live sports ventures, including last month’s boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, a 10-year broadcasting deal with WWE valued at $5bn, The Netflix Cup (a golf pro-am with F1 drivers) and The Netflix Slam (a tennis exhibition between Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal in Las Vegas).

Can a streamer handle live sports?

Netflix’s ability to handle live NFL Christmas games will be a major test of its streaming infrastructure. While the platform has a strong record in on-demand streaming and some experience with live events like Chris Rock: Selective Outrage, the NFL games bring unique challenges, including massive simultaneous viewership and real-time delivery.

The Christmas Day games are expected to draw many millions of viewers, pushing Netflix’s scalability and reliability to the limit. Any buffering, lags or outages, such as what happened during the Paul v Tyson stream, could harm its reputation.

How many people watched last year’s NFL Christmas games?

The 2023 NFL Christmas Day tripleheader drew an average of 28.7m viewers across three games, a 29% increase from the previous year’s 22.2m average. The Raiders v Chiefs game at 1pm on CBS and Nickelodeon attracted 29.6m viewers, making it the second most-watched NFL Christmas game on record. The Giants v Eagles game at 4.30pm on FOX followed with 29.0m viewers, while the primetime Ravens v 49ers game at 8.15pm ET on ABC and ESPN+ drew 27.6m viewers. Each game ranked among the top five most-watched NFL Christmas Day games since 1988, showcasing the league’s growing ability to capture holiday audiences.

When does the Beyoncé halftime show start? And what game is it in the middle of?

Beyoncé is scheduled to perform during half-time of second game between the Ravens and Texans. The show is expected to start approximately 90 minutes after kickoff, so around 6pm ET.

Why Beyoncé?

Beyoncé’s half-time gig is a strategic collaboration that highlights her ties to her Houston hometown, leveraging her star power to enhance the event’s pan-cultural appeal. This aligns with the NFL’s goal of blending sports and entertainment to maximize holiday viewership.

Of course Beyoncé is no stranger to the NFL’s grand stage. In 2013, she delivered a show-stopping halftime performance at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, where she was joined by Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams for a memorable Destiny’s Child reunion. Three years later, at Super Bowl 50, Beyoncé returned to the field alongside Coldplay and Bruno Mars, captivating an audience of 115.5m households.

Only true Beyhivers will remember her first NFL performance: with Destiny’s Child at half-time of a 1998 preseason game between the Giants and Jets at the Meadowlands when she was 16.

What is she expected to perform?

The show will serve as Beyoncé’s first live showcase of songs from her album Cowboy Carter. Details have been scarce, but the oddsmakers have priced joint-lead single Texas Hold ‘Em as a heavy favorite to open her set. The prospect of special guests has been teased, so don’t be surprised if Shaboozey or Dolly Parton makes a cameo.

How can I watch the Beyoncé replay?

You don’t have to watch Beyoncé (or the football) as it happens, but plan accordingly. In the United States, the Christmas Day broadcast will disappear from the platform three hours after the livestream ends. Outside in the US, it will expires 24 hours after the livestream ends.