In a record-breaking start to the NFL season, the league averaged 21.0 million viewers per game during its opening week, marking the most-watched Week 1 on record. This per-game average on TV and digital platforms represented a 12% increase over last year’s numbers. In total, 123 million people watched at least part of a game, making it the highest total for an opening week since 2019.
NBC’s broadcast of the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the Baltimore Ravens led the way with an average of 29.2 million viewers, making it the network’s second-largest regular-season game since 2006. Other notable games include Fox’s broadcast of the Dallas Cowboys’ win over the Cleveland Browns, which averaged 23.93 million viewers, and the Sunday night game between the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams, which saw a 3% jump in viewership from last year.
Even non-traditional broadcast days saw success, as the NFL’s first Friday night game in 54 years between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers drew in 14.0 million viewers. Additionally, despite some viewers being unable to watch due to a carriage dispute with Disney, Monday Night Football’s matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets still averaged 20.4 million viewers.
Overall, the NFL’s strong start to the season has fans excited and sets a positive tone for the rest of the year. With increased viewership and attention, the league looks poised for continued success throughout the season.
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Photo credit www.boston.com