LeBron James is going to have to make room for the NFL. Wednesday's doubleheader on Netflix set records as the most-streamed NFL games in U.S. history, with numbers nearly five times more than the NBA. The Baltimore Ravens' 31-2 victory over the Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million while Kansas City's 29-10 win at Pittsburgh averaged 24.1 according to early viewer figures released by Nielsen on Thursday. Nielsen also said there were 65 million U.S. viewers who tuned in for at least one minute of one of the two games. The NBA's five-game slate averaged about 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and its platforms, according to the league and Nielsen. “I love the NFL,” James said in his televised postgame interview Wednesday night. “But Christmas is our day.” While the NBA's Christmas lineup has its best viewer numbers in five years, the NFL has made Christmas one of its tentpole events during the regular season, joining Kickoff Weekend and Thanksgiving. “The numbers speak for themselves and LeBron can have his own view, and I’m sure more people will look at that because of this," said Hans Schroeder, the executive vice president of NFL Media. "But, you know, we’re focused on the NFL and we’re thrilled with the results this year with the Christmas on Netflix and we’re excited to continue to build that over the next couple of years.” Both NFL games surpassed the previous mark of 23 million for last season’s AFC wild-card game between the Miami Dolphins and Chiefs on Peacock. Viewership for Ravens-Texans peaked with the Beyoncé Bowl. The 20-minute halftime performance averaged over 27 million viewers. The viewer figures include the audience on Netflix, mobile viewership on NFL+ and those who tuned in on CBS stations in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Baltimore and Houston. Global ratings and final U.S. numbers are expected to be available on Tuesday. The NFL's Christmas numbers decreased from last season, but not at the rate that usually happens when something goes from broadcast to streaming. Last year’s three games averaged 28.68 million viewers. The early afternoon contest between the Las Vegas Raiders and Chiefs led the way, averaging 29.48 million on CBS. Once global and Netflix's first-party data is released, both Christmas games should surpass 30 million. The NBA's lineup saw an 84% rise over 2023. One reason for the increase is that all five games were on ABC, compared to two last year. The Los Angeles Lakers’ 115-113 victory over the Golden State Warriors — a game pitting Olympic teammates LeBron James and Stephen Curry — averaged 7.76 million viewers and peaked with about 8.32 million viewers toward the end of the contest, the league said. Those numbers represent the most-watched NBA regular season game in five years. The NBA said all five Christmas games on its schedule — San Antonio at New York in Victor Wembanyama's holiday debut, Minnesota at Dallas, Philadelphia at Boston, Denver at Phoenix and Lakers-Warriors — saw year-over-year viewership increases. Wednesday's numbers pushed NBA viewership for the season across ESPN platforms to up 4% over last season. The league also saw more than 500 million video views on its social media platforms Wednesday, a new record. For the NBA, those are all good signs amid cries that NBA viewership is hurting. “Ratings are down a bit at beginning of the season. But cable television viewership is down double digits so far this year versus last year," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month. “You know, we’re almost at the inflection point where people are watching more programing on streaming than they are on traditional television. And it’s a reason why for our new television deals, which we enter into next year, every game is going to be available on a streaming service.” Part of that new package of television deals that the NBA is entering into next season also increases the number of regular season games broadcast on television from 15 to 75. AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBATe Ipukarea Society: ‘Death by power point’: NZ visit ‘a road show, at worst a propaganda tour’Remain firm KEIR Starmer must resist the incessant siren calls of Remainers in his party. For the first time this decade, Britain has an Anglophile US President keen to do a deal which could transform our economic fortunes. What is the point of risking that relationship by cosying up further to a failed EU which we fought so hard to free ourselves from? Don’t take our word for it. Listen to Shanker Singham, one of the world’s leading trade experts. Living standards have no chance of getting better if Labour resets ties with Brussels and ends up derailing a US deal, he says. Britain’s post-Brexit place in the lucrative CPTPP group of trading countries would also be put at risk. READ MORE ON SIR KEIR STARMER Our current trade with the EU is working. Brexit freedoms must not be thrown away at the insistence of those Remainiac MPs who have never forgiven voters for inflicting that 2016 Referendum defeat. We trust the Prime Minister won’t make a fatal mistake by listening to them now. No panic, Kemi NIGEL Farage’s boast that Britain’s youngest political party now has more members than the oldest in the world is, on the face of it, bad news for the Tories. Most read in The Sun Right now Reform is cashing in on widespread dismay at Labour’s stuttering start in Government. But there is no need for Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to start panicking just yet. A General Election is not likely for at least four years. That’s plenty of time for the Tories to put their catastrophic defeat behind them and come up with serious solutions to the country’s many problems. Showing true Conservative values and policies is the way for Badenoch to win voters’ trust, land punches on Labour — and deal with the rise of Reform. Hope for Beeb FOR the first time in years the BBC served up a feast of Christmas telly. The superb ending to Gavin and Stacey and the sublime Wallace and Gromit provided us with rare moments of national unity. In their own ways, these brilliant shows are celebrations of traditional British values and ordinary lives. Each had their own little digs at wokery and warnings of the stupidity of being led by social media. Food for thought for BBC bosses obsessed with both. READ MORE SUN STORIES This was a timely reminder that the job of the national broadcaster is to cater for the majority — not the minority. To stop preaching and make shows that we all want to watch together.
Trump's lawyers rebuff DA's idea for upholding his hush money convictionUS sex-abuse watchdog fires investigator after learning of his arrest for stealing drug money DENVER (AP) — The U.S. Center for SafeSport abruptly fired one of its investigators last month after learning he’d been arrested for stealing money confiscated after a drug bust he was part of during his previous job as a police officer. Jason Krasley left his job with the Allentown Police Department in Pennsylvania in 2021 and was hired by the Denver-based SafeSport center to look into sensitive cases involving sex abuse and harassment. The center said it conducts multiple interviews and a “comprehensive background check” of potential employees. The center said it was looking into cases Krasley handled to make sure they were dealt with appropriately. Jim Larrañaga steps down at Miami, Bill Courtney takes over to finish season CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Jim Larrañaga has stepped down as Miami’s men’s basketball coach effective immediately. Larrañaga will be replaced by associate head coach Bill Courtney — one of Larrañaga’s best friends for the past three decades or so — for the remainder of the season. The now-former coach says he loves the university but believes it's the right time to step away. Larrañaga says "I’ve tried every which way to keep this going.” Larrañaga joins a long line of prominent college basketball coaches who have left their jobs in recent years citing the changes in the game and the challenge of coaching in the name, image and likeness era. Cowboys shutting down CeeDee Lamb with 2 games to go over receiver's shoulder issue FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb with two games remaining after their 2023 All-Pro receiver spent the second half of the season dealing with a sprained right shoulder. The team says additional exams revealed enough damage to keep Lamb off the field Sunday at Philadelphia and in the final game at home against Washington. The team says surgery isn't expected to be required. Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention a few hours before last weekend’s 26-24 victory over Tampa Bay. At least 65 million tune in for Netflix NFL Christmas Day games. NBA holiday ratings also skyrocket LeBron James is going to have to make room for the NFL. Wednesday’s doubleheader on Netflix set records as the most-streamed NFL games in U.S. history, with numbers nearly five times more than the NBA. The Baltimore Ravens’ 31-2 victory over the Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million while Kansas City’s 29-10 win at Pittsburgh averaged 24.1 according to early viewer figures released by Nielsen on Thursday. Nielsen also said there were 65 million U.S. viewers who tuned in for at least one minute of one of the two games. The NBA’s five-game slate averaged about 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN and its platforms, according to the league and Nielsen. Pat Riley says the Miami Heat will not trade Jimmy Butler ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — If Jimmy Butler wants a trade, the Miami Heat have no plans to make him happy. Heat President Pat Riley — in a rare move — spoke out to address rumors Thursday, saying the team has no plans to trade Butler. It’s a clear sign that, if necessary, the team will be willing to let Butler leave as a free agent and get nothing in return. Riley says in a release distributed by the team "we usually don’t comment on rumors, but all this speculation has become a distraction to the team and is not fair to the players and coaches.” Penn State offensive coordinator Kotelnicki's creativity has the Nittany Lions humming in the CFP Penn State's offense is thriving under first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. The Nittany Lions are one of a handful of Power Four schools averaging 200 yards per game rushing and receiving heading into their College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Boise State. Penn State has one of the most unique offensive weapons in the country in tight end Tyler Warren. Warren has 92 receptions this season and has become a threat out of the backfield, rushing for 197 yards and two touchdowns. Organizers say two sailors have died in Sydney to Hobart yacht race amid wild weather conditions SYDNEY (AP) — Organizers said that two Sydney to Hobart sailors have died at sea amid wild weather conditions that forced line honors favorite Master Lock Comanche to withdraw among mass retirements. The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, which administers the yacht race, has said that one sailor each on entrants Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline were killed after being struck by the boom, a large horizontal pole at the bottom of the sail. The race will continue as the fleet continues its passage to Constitution Dock in Hobart, with the first boats expected to arrive later on Friday or early Saturday morning. Haaland penalty failure and Fernandes red card pile on woes for City and United in Premier League Erling Haaland’s failure from the penalty spot and Bruno Fernandes’ latest red card have compounded the woes of Manchester City and Manchester United on another tough day for the two Premier League giants. City dropped more points in its improbably poor run of form by drawing 1-1 at home to Everton. Haaland had a spot kick saved by England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The defending champions have only won one of its last 13 games in all competitions. City is languishing in seventh place while United is 14th after a 2-0 loss at Wolverhampton. Fernandes was sent off in the 47th. First-place Liverpool beat Leicester 3-1 in foggy conditions at Anfield and leads by seven points. Simona Halep withdraws from Australian Open qualifying because of knee and shoulder pain MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has pulled out of Australian Open qualifying and a tuneup tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, because of pain in her knee and shoulder. Thursday's news represents the latest interruption of her comeback from a drug suspension. Halep posted on social media that she was feeling poorly after participating in an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi. The 33-year-old Romanian said she is planning to next enter the Transylvania Open in her home country, where play begins Feb. 3. Halep was granted a wild-card entry for qualifying in the Australian Open last week. Mahomes throws 3 TDs as Chiefs clinch AFC's top seed by breezing past the skidding Steelers 29-10 PITTSBURGH (AP) — Patrick Mahomes passed for 320 yards and three touchdowns and the Kansas City Chiefs locked up the top seed in the AFC for the fourth time in seven seasons with a 29-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The two-time defending Super Bowl champions raced to an early 13-point lead and were never really threatened by the Steelers (10-6). Pittsburgh has dropped three straight to see its chances of capturing the AFC North take another hit. Travis Kelce caught eight passes for 84 yards and a touchdown. Kelce also became the third tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 receptions, joining Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten.Chip giant Nvidia, which dominates the training of artificial intelligence , sold thirty-one billion dollars worth of the systems last quarter, it reported Wednesday evening As chief executive of Nvidia, Jensen Huang, who co-founded the company, is also the chief evangelist of all things AI these days. As such, he spent Wednesday evening telling Wall Street analysts about the important applications being made possible with the technology. Also: Google's AI podcast tool transforms your text into stunningly lifelike audio - for free Huang emphasized one of his favorite applications, Google's Notebook LM , saying he "used the living daylights" out of the AI tool. The NotebookLM program, which is free to use with a Google account, lets users upload documents and create a summary of their contents. It suggests questions to ask about the documents, engages in a chat about the documents , and it will even create an audio conversation about the contents between two speakers in the style of a podcast. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says he has "used the living daylights" out of Google's NotebookLM program. "I put every PDF, every archived paper into it just to listen to it as well as scanning through it," he said. Huang talked about NotebookLM in response to one Wall Street stock analyst's question about the trends in "inference," the practice of making predictions with an AI model after the model has been trained. Also: Google's new AI tool could be your new favorite learning aid - and it's free "Our hope and dream is that someday, the world does a ton of inference," replied Huang. "That's when AI has really succeeded," he continued, "is when every single company is doing inference inside their companies, for the marketing department and forecasting department and supply chain group and their legal department and engineering, of course, and coding." Huang cited other examples of AI inference, such as "physical AI," meaning AI models that "understand the meaning of the structure" of the physical world and how to "reason" about it. Such models can "not only understand but can predict, roll out a short future." Huang is betting that inference tasks will be the new growth engine for his company's data center GPU chip sales, after having dominated the market for chips for training AI models for years. Huang told Wall Street his company's latest GPU, "Blackwell," unveiled in March , is "in great shape," and will generate billions of dollars of revenue in the fiscal fourth quarter ending in January. "Blackwell production is in full steam," said Huang. "We will deliver this quarter more Blackwells than we had previously estimated. And so, the supply chain team is doing an incredible job of working with our supply partners to increase Blackwell, and we're going to continue to work hard to increase Blackwell through next year. It is the case that demand exceeds our supply." Google's new AI tool could be your new favorite learning aid - and it's free The best open-source AI models: All your free-to-use options explained I changed 5 ChatGPT settings and instantly became more productive - here's how The best AI search engines of 2024: Google, Perplexity, and moreApple TV+ teases mysterious announcement on the first weekend of 2025
OTTAWA — Indian law enforcement agencies say they are investigating alleged links between dozens of colleges in Canada and two "entities" in Mumbai accused of illegally ferrying students across the Canada-United States border. A news release Tuesday from India's Enforcement Directorate — a multi-disciplinary organization that investigates money laundering and foreign exchange laws — said a multi-city search has revealed "incriminating" evidence of "human trafficking." The allegations have not been tested in court. The federal government, the RCMP, and Indian high commission in Ottawa, and multiple Canadian college officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The U.S. embassy said Thursday it had no comment. Indian officials say they launched their investigation after Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, 39, was found dead along with his wife and two children near a border crossing between Manitoba and the United States on Jan. 19, 2022. Last month, a Minnesota jury found two men guilty — Steve Shand of Florida and Harshkumar Patel, an Indian national arrested in Chicago — on four counts related to bringing unauthorized people into the U.S., transporting them and profiting from it. Patel is a common name in India, and the family was not related to the accused. Prosecutors said Harshkumar Patel co-ordinated a sophisticated operation while Shand was a driver. Shand was to pick up 11 Indian migrants on the Minnesota side of the border, prosecutors said. Only seven survived the foot crossing. Canadian authorities found the Patel family later that morning, dead from the cold. Harshkumar Patel and Shand have not yet been sentenced and might appeal. The Tuesday news release said officials launched an investigation following a report filed against Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel, who allegedly arranged the travel of the family. Each member of the family was allegedly charged the equivalent of between $93,000 and $102,000 to cross into United States from Canada, the directorate claimed. The incident has been called the Dingucha case in India, named after the village in the Gujarat state of western India from which the family originated. The Enforcement Directorate said it searched eight places last week in Mumbai, Nagpur in Maharashtra state, and Gandhinagar and Vadodara in Gujarat. It also claims that Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel allegedly arranged people to get admissions to Canadian colleges, which helped in getting student visas. The news release did not specify the schools alleged to be involved. "Once the individuals or students reach Canada, instead of joining the college, they illegally crossed the U.S.-Canada Border and never joined college(s) in Canada," it said. The fee paid toward college admission was then returned, it added. The search has found that about 25,000 students were referred by one "entity" and over 10,000 students by another to various colleges outside India every year, the release claimed. The network has about 1,700 agents in Gujarat and around 3,500 across India, of which 800 are active, it alleged. The release claims that "around 112 colleges based in Canada" have entered into agreement with one entity, while "more than 150" colleges have done so with another entity. It is unclear from the release whether any colleges have ties to both entities. Anil Pratham, a former high-ranking police official in Gujarat, was involved in investigating the case from January 2022 until his retirement this fall. He told The Canadian Press his team looked at paperwork, such as certificates and documents used by students to apply to colleges and universities abroad. Police then contacted villagers through various societies, asking them for help. "We conveyed to the villagers that you should come out and tell (us) who are the victims and who are the agents who live there," he said in an interview from Gujarat. "This helped us in our investigation." The process took nearly three years because the first step is to establish the crime, charge, investigate and finalize those charges, he said. Police in Gujarat got help from their counterparts in Canada and New York, Pratham said. He also had advice for those wanting to go abroad to study or work. "There is a legal way of going from India to whichever country one wants," he said. News of the Indian investigation comes amid tensions with the U.S. over border security, a federal rethink of international-student policy, and diplomatic tensions with India over New Delhi's alleged targeting of Sikh activists in Canada. Trump has threatened wounding tariffs on Canadian goods if Ottawa does not sufficiently crack down on migrants and drugs crossing into the U.S. illegally, leading Ottawa to earmark $1.3 billion over six years to address border security. Before that, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats in October, over allegations they used their position to collect information on Canadians and then passed it on to criminal gangs who targeted the individuals directly. At the time, Canada also alleged India's home affairs minsiter ordered intelligence-gathering operations against Sikh separatists who advocate for an independent country called Khalistan to be carved out of India. New Delhi rejects Ottawa's claims. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 26, 2024. Hina Alam and Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press