Current:Home > FinanceNFL averaged 21 million viewers per game for opening week, its highest on record -AssetScope
NFL averaged 21 million viewers per game for opening week, its highest on record
View
Date:2025-04-24 21:04:09
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The NFL averaged 21.0 million viewers per game during the league’s opening week, making it the most-watched Week 1 on record.
The league and Nielsen said Wednesday morning that the per-game average on TV and digital platforms was a 12% increase over last year.
All told, 123 million people saw at least part of one game, its highest total for an opening week since 2019.
“A great start with the viewership. It was great to be back and a lot to be excited about,” said Hans Schroeder, the executive vice president of NFL Media.
NBC had the most-watched game, with defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City’s 27-20 victory over Baltimore in last Thursday’s opener averaging 29.2 million on TV and digital. It was NBC’s second-largest regular season game since 2006, when it acquired the “Sunday Night Football” package. The Sunday night game between Detroit and the Los Angeles Rams, which the Lions won 26-20 in overtime, averaged 22.7 million, a 3% jump from last year.
Tom Brady’s first game as Fox’s top analyst — Dallas’ 33-17 win over Cleveland — averaged 23.93 million. The six games that were part of Fox’s doubleheader (four early, two late) averaged 18.64 million, making it the network’s best start since 2020.
This was the first time since 2020 that Fox solely had the Sunday afternoon doubleheader in Week 1. Both CBS and Fox carried two games apiece on the opening Sunday the past three seasons.
CBS averaged 17.79 million for its six games, its most watched Week 1 singleheader since it reacquired NFL rights in 1998. Most of CBS’ affiliates had games in the 1 p.m. EDT window, but New York, Chicago, Atlanta and Pittsburgh got Jim Harbaugh’s first game as coach of the Los Angeles Chargers against the Las Vegas Raiders at 4:05 p.m. EDT.
New York, Chicago, Atlanta and Pittsburgh could not air games in CBS’ early window because it is a league rule that no game is shown opposite the game of the local team.
Philadelphia’s 34-29 victory over Green Bay in the NFL’s first Friday night Week 1 game in 54 years averaged 14.0 million on Peacock and NBC affiliates in Philadelphia, Green Bay and Milwaukee. It was the second-most watched live event in Peacock’s four-year history, behind last season’s AFC wild card round game between Kansas City and Miami.
“I think the numbers even exceeded our expectations. Brazil was great and the game was an exciting one,” Schroeder said. “On a new night and window, I think that was a phenomenal start for us.”
“Monday Night Football” on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+ averaged 20.4 million for San Francisco’s 32-19 win over the New York Jets despite most DirecTV customers not being able to receive it due to its carriage dispute with Disney (the only way they could watch it is if their ABC affiliate was not owned by Disney, which was not the case for DirecTV customers in New York and San Francisco).
The average was down from the 22.7 million for last year’s opener between the Jets and Buffalo.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
veryGood! (4)
Related
- Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
- Black bears are wandering into human places more. Here's how to avoid danger.
- Former tennis great Michael Chang the focus of new ESPN documentary
- Shop Coach Outlet’s Whimsical Collection: Score Fairy Cottagecore Bags and Fashion up to 65% Off
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- Jessica Springsteen goes to Bruce and E Street Band show at Wembley instead of Olympics
- California firefighters make progress as wildfires push devastation and spread smoke across US West
- USA skateboarders Nyjah Huston, Jagger Eaton medal at Paris Olympics
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- All the Athletes Who Made History During the 2024 Paris Olympics
Ranking
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- National Chicken Wing Day deals: Get free wings at Wingstop, Buffalo Wild Wings, more
- Want to earn extra money through a side hustle? Here's why 1 in 3 Americans do it.
- Why Fans Think Pregnant Katherine Schwarzenegger Hinted at Sex of Baby No. 3
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- Krispy Kreme: New Go USA doughnuts for 2024 Olympics, $1 doughnut deals this week
- Noah Lyles says his popularity has made it hard to stay in Olympic Village
- Why are full-body swimsuits not allowed at the Olympics? What to know for Paris Games
Recommendation
Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
For 'Deadpool & Wolverine' supervillain Emma Corrin, being bad is all in the fingers
Fresh quakes damage West Texas area with long history of tremors caused by oil and gas industry
Vigils honor Sonya Massey as calls for justice grow | The Excerpt
'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
Scott Peterson Gives First Interview in 20 Years on Laci Peterson Murder in New Peacock Series
9 Self-Tanners to Help Make Your Summer Tan Last
How Brazil's Rebeca Andrade, world's other gymnasts match up with Simone Biles at Olympics