• Loading stock data...
Thursday, September 18, 2025

NFL’s UK Presence Growing Despite Loss of London Games

  • Despite losing this year’s London Games due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the NFL’s U.K. popularity continues to increase.
  • Overall linear and digital engagement across the pond is up 54% year-over-year.
nfl-london-games-loss-2020
Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports

In a world full of cancellations and postponements, one notable absence in professional sports this year is the NFL London Games. 

Ahead of the 2020 campaign, the league was preparing for its 14th consecutive season of playing at least one game in London. It was also planning on hosting a game in Mexico City for a third time in four years.

Come May however, the coronavirus pandemic put that streak to an inevitable end, pulling the plug on five international games. It also prevented another important feat from occurring: the Jacksonville Jaguars becoming the first NFL team to play two straight games in London. 

With the NFL’s inability to play any international games in 2020, one would suspect a subsequent decline in overseas interest.

More than a quarter through the season, however, popularity of American football has only grown in the United Kingdom, even catching league personnel off-guard.

Through the first three games of the season, U.K. viewership for the NFL’s Sunday night broadcasts is up 8% since 2019. Overall linear and digital engagement has also risen 54% year-over-year across the league’s media rights and digital content portfolio. 

That digital engagement growth has been helped by the U.K.’s youthful NFL fanbase. According to Charlotte Offord, senior director of marketing at NFL UK, 57% of that group is under 35-years-old, who have also caused a 30% bump in growth and engagement across the NFL UK’s social media channels.

“We’re able to put out some of those top highlights and clips that people want to consume week in and week out,” Offord said.

While those figures are impressive to Offord, one stat in particular has surprised her the most thus far.

An increase in second-screen viewership, which has helped the NFL’s reach in the U.K. rise 60% compared to last year. 

NFL Continues Growing UK Footprint With Betting Partnership

NFL Continues Growing UK Footprint With Betting Partnership

The NFL has held 28 regular-season games in London across every season…
September 11, 2020

“We’ve walked into a year of so much uncertainty,” Offord said. “I really did hope that we would see some of the numbers in the success that we’ve seen. I was quite blown away by the increase in second-screen viewership. It’s not something I’d really considered going into the season, but what we’re seeing across overall industry trends is that there has been a change in viewing behavior that could’ve been caused by the pandemic, but we’re certainly seeing this trend and change.”

Offord largely attributes these statistical bumps to the NFL’s affiliations with various international broadcast companies. On Sept. 3, the league announced a three-year partnership with ViacomCBS Networks International, which brought back live “Monday Night Football” to the U.K.’s Channel 5 for the first time since 2009. “Monday Night Football” has been led by presenter Kirsten Watson and former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew and is being broadcasted from Los Angeles.  

The NFL-Channel 5 reconnect was preceded by the league’s ongoing commitment to Sky Sports. Having already been partners for 24 years, the two went into the 25th year of its partnership with a new five-year deal that was inked in August. For the first time ever, the league partnered with an international broadcaster to launch a channel — “Sky Sports NFL” — dedicated to American football.

The contract guaranteed round-the-clock NFL coverage across the U.K. and Republic of Ireland. It included a minimum of five live games each week, every Thursday night, Sunday night and Monday night contest, NFL RedZone and every minute of every playoff game, Pro Bowl and Super Bowl live, among others.

“Sky Sports has shown live NFL since 1995 and played a big role in growing the sport in the U.K. and Ireland over the last 25 years,” Stephen van Rooyen, chief executive officer at Sky UK and Europe, said in August regarding the news. “Now, as part of Comcast, we are excited about taking our partnership to a whole new level. Our viewers are passionate sports fans and we look forward to capturing the drama of the NFL for another five years.”

Even NFL Game Pass has performed markedly better this year. Sameer Pabari, managing director of international media rights at the NFL, told Sports Pro Media that the OTT platform has seen a near 20% increase year-over-year — despite not including its pre-season games, which is typically the primary sales window.

“We’re very encouraged by that though, at the end of the day, we see a lot more opportunity with Game Pass and right now is a product centered around live games for the most avid fans,” Pabari told Sports Pro Media.

Come playoff time, regular season results don’t hold the same weight — a mentality that Offord has adopted this year. “NFL UK Live at Home” are remote, Zoom-esque virtual events that connect “Sky Sports NFL” hosts with fans to talk about the latest league news. 

For “Monday Night Football,” the time difference forces London fans to tune in as early as 3:00 a.m. GMT. Offord and the league offer those dedicated viewers — who she and her colleagues call the “3:00 a.m. club” — the opportunity to interact with their social media accounts, especially on Twitter.

Even with Super Bowl LV still months away, Offord says that the NFL UK’s early success isn’t necessarily a fluke, but rather indicative of its efforts at making American football a 24/7 topic across the pond. 

“The London Games are obviously a huge part of our calendar in a usual year,” Offord said. “But as a team, we’re actually focused always on driving that year-round momentum and that conversation with our fans. Whilst we don’t have London Games this year, our focus is still to drive that season-long narrative and execute campaigns that are about deepening that engagement with our current fans, but then also trying to reach new ones.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

$3.8 Billion Commanders Stadium Deal Approved Despite Late Drama

A decisive final vote on the stadium followed some last-minute snags.

Silver: My Comments About Basketball Highlights Were ‘Misconstrued’

The NBA commissioner spoke at the Front Office Sports Tuned in summit.
Donald Trump
exclusive

Trump’s Unprecedented Super Bowl Visit Cost Secret Service More Than $120K

Trump was the first president to attend the Super Bowl.
Maria Taylor

Maria Taylor Talks About ‘Moving Differently’ in ESPN-NBC Jump

Taylor will be NBC Sports’ lead NBA and WNBA studio host.

Featured Today

Premier Lacrosse League

‘The Circus Is Coming to Town’: Why Upstart Leagues Start on Tour

In their ambitious plans, a traveling schedule is only temporary.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: A detailed view of the MLB Debut patch on the jersey of Patrick Monteverde #44 of the Miami Marlins prior to game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
September 13, 2025

The Tiny Jersey Patch at the Center of the MLB Rookie Card..

Autographed cards containing a piece of baseball history have upended the market.
September 11, 2025

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Could Set More NFL Ratings Records

Fox will nationally televise Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
September 10, 2025

ESPN’s ‘MNF’ Ratings Up 8% As NFL Surges to Strong Start

ESPN posts its second-best Week 1 “Monday Night Football” audience.

Fever Ratings Fall Without Clark, but Rest of WNBA Game 1s Surge

The Indiana Fever game drew 47% fewer viewers this year.
exclusive
September 16, 2025

ESPN, Fox One Added 1M Sign-Ups in First 10 Days After Launch

The two high-profile streaming services have strong starts with consumers.
Sep 14, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) makes a reception defended by Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) during the fourth quarter of the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
September 16, 2025

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Sets Early NFL TV Ratings Mark

Several new milestones are established with the big early-season matchup.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
Greg Olsen
September 16, 2025

Greg Olsen on Tom Brady’s Raiders Role: ‘More Power to Him’

This season, the NFL has relaxed the special Brady broadcasting rules.
Jul 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Injured Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks on from the bench during the first half of a basketball game against the Chicago Sky at United Center.
September 15, 2025

WNBA Ratings Rise 3% in 2025 Despite Clark’s Absence

Caitlin Clark played in just 13 of 44 regular-season games.
Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) breaks up a pass intended for Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown (85) on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won the game, 27-18.
September 15, 2025

Amazon Shatters Previous Ratings High for 1st NFL Game

“TNF” viewership surges 35% compared to the 2024 season average.
Las Vegas Aces
September 15, 2025

WNBA Playoffs Face ESPN Fall Crunch For Final Time

The games will be spread across three networks next year.