NFL sets record with most watched week 1, averaging 21 million viewers

Sep 11

Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

By Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Mathew Grisham (Digital Producer), Mirlie Larose (Producer), Emma Stoltzfus (Video Editor/Producer)

The NFL had an opening week that surpassed last year’s, with a large increase of viewership across the board. Around 21 million viewers watched the games, a 12% increase from 2023.

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Nielsen says 123 million people tuned in to at least part of a game, the highest total since 2019. NBC’s game featuring the Chiefs and the Ravens led the way, drawing 29.2 million viewers, making it the second most watched regular season game since 2006.

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Fox also had a big week, with Tom Brady’s debut as an analyst pulling nearly 24 million viewers for the Cowboys-Browns game, and CBS had its strongest week since 1998.

There were some regional rules in play too, cities like New York, Chicago and Atlanta couldn’t air games opposite their home teams. Peacock’s Friday night Eagles-Packers game drew 14 million viewers, the second most watched live event in its history.

Even with some blackouts, Monday night football on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+ still averaged 20.4 million viewers.

Tags: Atlanta, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago, Football, Fox, Fox Sports, Kansas City Chiefs, New York City, NFL, Nielsen, Sports, Tom Brady

Jack Aylmer

THE NFL OPENING WEEK SHATTERED VIEWERSHIP RECORDS, AVERAGING 21 MILLION VIEWERS PER GAME, WITH A 12-PERCENT INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR.

NIELSEN SAYS 123 MILLION PEOPLE TUNED IN TO AT LEAST PART OF A GAME, THE HIGHEST TOTAL SINCE 2019.

NBC’S CHIEF-RAVENS OPENER LED THE WAY, DRAWING 29.2 MILLION VIEWERS, MAKING IT NBC’S SECOND LARGEST REGULAR-SEASON GAME SINCE 2006.

FOX ALSO HAD A BIG WEEK WITH TOM BRADY’S DEBUT AS AN ANALYST PULLING IN NEARLY 24 MILLION VIEWERS FOR THE COWBOYS-BROWNS GAME, WHILE CBS HAD ITS STRONGEST WEEK SINCE 1998.

THERE WERE SOME REGIONAL RULES IN PLAY TOO– CITIES LIKE NEW YORK, CHICAGO, AND ATLANTA COULDN’T AIR GAMES OPPOSITE THEIR HOME TEAMS. BUT STILL, CBS HAD A STRONG SHOWING.

PEACOCK’S FRIDAY NIGHT EAGLES-PACKERS GAME DREW 14 MILLION VIEWERS, THE SECOND-MOST WATCHED LIVE EVENT IN ITS HISTORY.

EVEN WITH SOME BLACKOUTS, MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL ON ABC,ESPN, ESPN2 AND ESPN-PLUS STILL AVERAGED 20-POINT-FOUR MILLION VIEWERS.

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