The NFL games are on streaming services only

For generations, the NBA has owned Christmas Day in American sports culture. Long before the NFL began scheduling holiday games, the league embraced December 25 as its marquee regular‑season showcase. The tradition dates back to 1947, and over the decades it has become a stage for superstar performances, rivalry clashes, and nationally televised drama that often previews the playoff storylines to come.

This year, the NBA once again rolls out a five‑game slate across ABC and ESPN, ensuring that every matchup is available on traditional television rather than behind a streaming paywall. That stands in contrast to the NFL, which will require fans to subscribe to Amazon Prime Video and Netflix to watch its three Christmas Day games. For many viewers, that difference alone reinforces the NBA’s long‑standing commitment to making its holiday showcase widely accessible.

The NBA action begins at 12 p.m. ET (11 a.m. CT, 10 a.m. MT, 9 a.m. PT) with the Cleveland Cavaliers visiting the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden—one of the league’s most iconic Christmas settings. The day continues with San Antonio at Oklahoma City, followed by Dallas at Golden State, a matchup featuring some of the league’s most dynamic scorers. In prime time, the Houston Rockets face the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, before the night concludes with a heavyweight Western Conference showdown: Minnesota at Denver, tipping off at 10:30 p.m. ET. All five games will air across ABC and ESPN platforms, continuing the league’s long partnership with Disney’s broadcast networks.

NBA vs. NFL: A New Holiday Battle for Viewership

In recent years, the NFL has expanded its presence on Christmas Day, creating a new ratings battle that sports pundits have framed as a clash for holiday supremacy. Historically, the NFL avoided scheduling games on December 25, leaving the NBA as the undisputed star of the sports calendar. But with football now encroaching on the holiday, the NBA finds itself sharing a stage it once dominated.

Still, the NBA’s decision to keep its games on widely available broadcast channels may give it an edge with casual fans who prefer not to juggle multiple streaming subscriptions. While the NFL’s holiday games will be exclusive to Amazon Prime and Netflix, the NBA remains fully accessible on ABC and ESPN—an important distinction in an era of fragmented media consumption.

Why Christmas Still Matters for the NBA

For many sports fans, Christmas Day marks the unofficial start of the NBA season. With college football bowl games winding down and the NFL regular season nearing its conclusion, December 25 becomes the moment when casual viewers begin paying closer attention to basketball. The holiday slate often serves as a national introduction to emerging stars, rising contenders, and the storylines that will shape the second half of the season.

The NBA understands this dynamic well, which is why its Christmas Day tradition remains one of the league’s most valuable broadcast assets. Even as the NFL muscles into the holiday spotlight, the NBA’s blend of accessibility, star power, and tradition ensures that Christmas basketball continues to resonate with fans across generations.

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Few matchups in college football carry the weight, tradition, and national intrigue of the USC–Notre Dame rivalry. Since the two programs first met nearly a century ago, the Trojans and Fighting Irish have built a series defined by iconic moments, legendary coaches, and championship implications. The rivalry has long served as a bridge between two football cultures—Los Angeles glitz and Midwest grit—creating a uniquely American sports tradition that captivated fans across generations.

Over 93 meetings, the game has shaped Heisman campaigns, national title races, and unforgettable Saturdays. It has also stood out as one of the rare intersectional rivalries in the sport, with neither team sharing a conference yet maintaining a near‑annual clash since World War II. For many fans, USC–Notre Dame wasn’t just a game; it was a measuring stick for greatness and a celebration of college football’s pageantry and history.

Notre Dame’s CFP Agreement and Its Impact on USC’s Long‑Term Plans

According to reporting from the Los Angeles Times and On3, the rivalry was close to being extended into 2026 before a major development changed USC’s stance. Notre Dame reached a memorandum of understanding with the College Football Playoff guaranteeing the Irish a spot if they finish inside the top 12—an advantage USC reportedly did not know about during scheduling discussions.

Once USC learned of the agreement, administrators grew concerned that Notre Dame’s guaranteed path to the CFP could create what they viewed as a “material advantage”. The Trojans had been willing to compromise on scheduling, even agreeing to play the 2026 matchup in November. But after learning of the CFP deal, USC insisted the game be moved to Week Zero—something Notre Dame did not accept.

The result: the rivalry will not continue in 2026 or 2027, marking only the second interruption since the 1940s. Notre Dame has already filled the open dates with a home‑and‑home series against BYU.

A Sad Moment for College Football Fans

For fans across Los Angeles, South Bend, and the broader college football world, the pause in the USC–Notre Dame rivalry feels like the end of an era. Rivalries are the emotional backbone of the sport—annual traditions that connect generations, define seasons, and create memories that last a lifetime. Losing one of the sport’s most iconic matchups, even temporarily, leaves a void that no replacement game can truly fill.

Notre Dame replaced the USC game with a home and home series with BYU.

While business decisions, playoff structures, and competitive concerns shape modern college football, the disappearance of this rivalry is a reminder of what the sport risks losing. The hope among fans is that USC and Notre Dame will eventually find a path back to the field together. Until then, the absence of this historic clash will be felt every fall Saturday it’s missing.

Back in the late 1970s, long before the Tampa Bay Rays existed, I served as the executive producer of news and sports at WTOG‑TV. The station was led by broadcasting legend Jim Dowdle, who would later rise to run Tribune Broadcasting, including WGN. Under Dowdle’s leadership, WTOG secured an ambitious 80‑game package featuring regular‑season broadcasts of the Major League Baseball teams that trained in the region — the Reds, Cardinals, Mets, Phillies, Tigers, Pirates, White Sox, and Red Sox. I hosted a twice‑weekly pregame show tied to that package, and it quickly became one of the station’s highest‑rated programs.

My point is that if the Rays return to broadcast television in the Bay Area as the Lightning have, they will no doubt have a strong broadcast following. It is very possible that could happen sooner than later.

So, if as I reported yesterday if the DAZN deal to acquire Main Street Sports Group falls apart in January, the Tampa Bay Rays could suddenly regain full control of their local television rights. Main Street, which operates the FanDuel‑branded regional sports networks, is reportedly on the brink of collapse according to Sports Business Journal and other national outlets.

A shutdown of the RSN group would immediately revert broadcast rights back to the Rays, forcing the franchise to secure a new distribution partner for the 2026 season — and potentially as early as spring training.

The Williams Ranking the Rays’ Most Likely Local Broadcast Partners

1. Scripps Sports (WXPX‑TV / ION Tampa Bay) — The Clear Front‑Runner

Scripps Sports remains the most aggressive and best‑positioned contender to take over Tampa Bay Rays broadcasts if the team regains its rights. The company already controls the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers local packages, giving it a fully operational Florida sports infrastructure. WXPX‑TV (ION Tampa Bay) offers a powerful over‑the‑air signal, broad cable and satellite carriage, and a corporate sports division specifically built to replace the collapsing RSN model. Scripps has proven it can handle 70–80 game NHL schedules and would have no difficulty scaling to MLB’s 150‑game demands. Their hybrid model — free OTA broadcasts paired with team‑aligned streaming — is exactly what MLB wants in a post‑RSN world. For those reasons, Scripps remains the most turnkey and realistic partner.

2. Nexstar’s WFLA‑TV (NBC Tampa) — A Major‑Market Powerhouse With Sports Ambition

WFLA‑TV, owned by Nexstar, is one of the strongest broadcast signals in the Tampa Bay DMA and a station with deep production resources. Nexstar has been expanding its sports footprint nationally through The CW’s ACC football package, NASCAR, and other emerging sports properties. While Nexstar has not yet taken on a full MLB rights package, WFLA has the infrastructure, newsroom, and corporate backing to become a high‑profile broadcast home for the Rays. Nexstar could also leverage its CW affiliate in the market for overflow or simulcast opportunities. WFLA is a serious contender — especially if the Rays pursue a multi‑station distribution model.

3. Gray Television’s WWSB ABC 7 Sarasota — A Regional Force With a Hyper‑Local Strategy

Gray Television owns WWSB ABC 7 in Sarasota, a station that plays a major role in the southern half of the Rays’ territory. WWSB has become a standout in the region thanks to its “ABC 7+” strategy, which includes:

• All‑local programming throughout the day
• Expanded local news blocks
• A dedicated ABC 7+ streaming app offering live newscasts, local shows, and special programming
• A strong presence in Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte counties, all key Rays markets

Gray’s hyper‑local approach and its streaming‑first mindset make WWSB an ideal secondary or complementary partner for the Rays. While WWSB is unlikely to be the sole flagship, it could play a major role in a regional simulcast strategy, extending Rays coverage deeper into Southwest Florida.

4. Paramount’s WTOG‑TV (CW44 Tampa Bay) — A Viable but Less Aggressive Option

WTOG has a long history with sports and a flexible programming schedule that could easily accommodate a full MLB slate. The station’s reach is strong, and The CW’s growing national sports presence (ACC football, NASCAR) shows that the brand is becoming more sports‑friendly. However, Paramount has not aggressively pursued local pro‑team rights, and WTOG lacks the dedicated sports division that Scripps has built. WTOG remains a realistic option — especially in a shared‑rights model — but is not the leading candidate.

5. A Multi‑Station Shared‑Rights Model — Increasingly Likely

Given the ownership landscape, the Rays could adopt a hybrid distribution model similar to the Lightning and Panthers:

• Scripps (WXPX) as the primary broadcast partner
• Nexstar (WFLA) carrying select marquee games
• Gray (WWSB ABC 7) extending reach into Sarasota and Southwest Florida
• WTOG serving as an additional window or overflow outlet

This approach would maximize reach across Tampa Bay, Sarasota, and Central Florida while aligning with MLB’s push toward flexible, multi‑platform distribution.

Could the Lightning, Magic, and Rays Align on a Regional Strategy?

With the Lightning already partnered with Scripps and the Orlando Magic facing their own RSN uncertainty, there is growing speculation that Florida franchises could align around a shared broadcast strategy. A unified approach — built on free over‑the‑air distribution paired with team‑controlled streaming — would mirror the model the Lightning and Panthers have already adopted. Such collaboration could create a more stable, fan‑friendly ecosystem across the state.

MLB and Streaming Giants Could Also Enter the Picture

If the Rays regain their rights, MLB would likely step in immediately, as it did with the Padres and Diamondbacks, producing games in‑house and distributing them through MLB.TV and temporary broadcast partners. Streaming giants such as Amazon, Apple, and YouTube could also explore partial or full‑season packages, especially as leagues shift toward direct‑to‑consumer models. The Rays’ situation could become a test case for MLB’s long‑term vision of centralized streaming and flexible local distribution.