• Loading stock data...
Thursday, January 1, 2026

Amazon Bounces Back With Record Viewership

  • The Dallas Cowboys’ 41-35 win over the Seattle Seahawks averaged 15.26 million viewers — Prime Video’s most-watched game ever.
  • Amazon also claims that Thursday’s contest was the most-streamed NFL game in history.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott throws a pass during the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Amazon’s presentation of the NFL on Prime Video is back on track after disappointing results from its first Black Friday experiment.

The Dallas Cowboys’ thrilling 41-35 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football averaged 15.26 million viewers — surpassing Week 2’s Vikings-Eagles matchup (15.05M) as Prime Video’s most-watched game ever.

Amazon also claims that Thursday’s contest was the most-streamed NFL game in history — with the caveat that it measures with an average minute audience and includes only Prime Video, Twitch, and NFL+. However, it’s unlikely that CBS, Fox, or ESPN streaming services would approach this number. 

As more fans adjust to the streaming reality in the second season of Amazon’s exclusive ownership of TNF, the tech giant should be encouraged with its progress in the NFL — even accounting for a speed bump or two. 

Seahawks-Cowboys represented a 53% increase in viewership from Week 13’s Bills-Patriots matchup in 2022. To this point, all 11 games on Prime Video have experienced double-digit year-over-year viewership increases.

It also represents a big rebound for Amazon after its inaugural Black Friday game between the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets averaged 9.61 million viewers to be the second-least-viewed game on Prime Video this season; its 4.0 rating was the lowest for any game on Prime this year.

The Cowboys continue to jockey with its NFC East rivals in Philadelphia for the title of the NFL’s most popular team: Dallas’ blowout win on Thanksgiving was the most-watched game of the season and the second-most-watched regular season game of all time.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

The Pac-12 Shrank to Pac-2. In 2026, It Returns With 9 Members

The league was decimated in 2023 during a vicious round of realignment.

College Football GMs Became Must-Have in 2025

College front offices got corporatized in 2025.

Miami’s CFP Run Nets $14M So Far—and Canes Keep It All

The CFP awards these funds to conferences, which distribute them to schools.
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) carries the ball defended by Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) in the second half at U.S. Bank Stadium.

NFL Sets Streaming Record on Christmas

The new milestone arrives in a game with minimal competitive implications.

Featured Today

Heated Rivalry (L to R) - Connor Storrie as Ilya Rozanov and Hudson Williams as Shane Hollander in Episode 104 of Heated Rivalry. Cr. Sabrina Lantos © 2025

Hockey Needed Some Virality. Then Came ‘Heated Rivalry’

No one was prepared for the Canadian show’s smash success.
Rob Manfred
exclusive
December 23, 2025

MLB Teams Fear League Will Pick Winners and Losers in Tech

One company under consideration was founded by a top MLB exec’s uncle.
December 23, 2025

What It Takes to Pull Off Florida’s First Outdoor NHL Game

The Rangers will face the Panthers in Miami’s first NHL Winter Classic.
December 14, 2025

How Pickleball Became One Massive Private-Equity Rollup

Pickleball roads lead back to billionaire Tom Dundon.
NCAA Womens Basketball: Cal Poly SLO at UCLA

‘No Media Here’: UCLA Women’s Basketball Coach Rips Lack of Coverage

Her comments started a wider debate about women’s college hoops coverage.
Liam McHugh
December 29, 2025

Liam McHugh Says ‘NHL on TNT’ Is ‘Like a Hockey Locker Room’

McHugh talked to FOS ahead of the Winter Classic in Miami.
December 29, 2025

Sports Media Winners and Losers of 2025

Who was up and who was down in sports media this year?
Sponsored

The CFP Bowl Game Tickets Everyone Wants

The second 12-team College Football Playoff is in full swing and tickets to these games are selling at a premium.
December 25, 2025

Charles Barkley Calls ‘Greedy’ NFL ‘Pigs’ for Christmas Day Games

Barkley said Christmas should be for the NBA.
December 24, 2025

How Tom Brady Has Improved in Year 2 on Fox

A veteran Fox NFL producer told FOS what has improved.
Dec 13, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; NBA on Amazon announcers (from left) Taylor Rooks, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Blake Griffin and Udonis Haslem during the Emirates NBA Cup semifinals at T-Mobile Arena.
December 23, 2025

Biggest Sports Media Talent Moves of 2025

Netflix jumped into the sports podcast business.
Dec 20, 2025; College Station, TX, USA; Pat McAfee reacts prior to the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Texas A&M Aggies during the first round of the CFP National Playoff at Kyle Field.
December 23, 2025

Say It Ain’t So, Pat: Is McAfee Ending Kicking Contest?

The College GameDay star hinted it was the last kick on Saturday.