Week 2 of NFL preseason action kicks off Friday night, after the NFL Network had its most-watched slate of Week 1 preseason games on record.
Last week’s eight live preseason telecasts on NFL Network averaged 2.1 million viewers, which was up 44% over Week 1 in 2024, and an all-time high. That comes after the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game kicked off the preseason with 6.9 million viewers for the Chargers and Lions on July 31, marking that game’s highest audience since 2021, when the Cowboys and Steelers, two franchises that traditionally draw strong TV numbers, faced off.
In Week 1, a pair of matchups—the Dolphins-Bears (2.34 million) and Browns-Panthers (2.24 million)—were NFL Network’s most-watched preseason games, regardless of the week, since 2015. Cleveland rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders made his highly anticipated professional debut, starting the game and throwing for 138 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.
NFL Network also saw viewership increases around its non-live game programming. Good Morning Football was up 66% during the first week of the preseason, and studio shows NFL GameDay Kickoff and NFL GameDay Final were up 83% and 68%, respectively.
NFL Network is airing a total of 21 live game broadcasts this preseason, with seven more this weekend, and six in Week 3. Additionally, CBS, Fox, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video will each broadcast one national preseason game over the next two weeks.
The New NFL Network
NFL Network is starting to go through a transition, as ESPN is set to acquire the channel as part of a deal that will see the NFL take a 10% equity stake in ESPN. Final approval of the deal could come in 2026, so it’s possible that by next preseason, NFL Network will be part of ESPN’s portfolio.
Pending federal regulatory approval, ESPN also will be assuming the lease to NFL Network’s 75,000-square-foot studios across the street from SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, sources have told Front Office Sports.
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