• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and free FOS gear? Take our quick reader survey. Take the survey here

NFL Sees a Rise in Viewership with 2020 Season in Full Gear

  • The top 10 TV programs on major networks have been NFL related for the last two weeks.
  • The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints game on Sept. 23 was Fox’s most-watched season opener in 4 years.

NFL games have been the most-watched TV programs across major networks since the 2020 season began on Sept. 10 as millions of fans have tuned in.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints game on Sept. 13, which was Tom Brady’s debut with the Bucs, was Fox’s most-watched season opener in four years. The game has the highest viewership of the season thus far with 26.3 million viewers, which is up 7% from last season’s game in the same slot per Nielsen Media Research. 

Subsequently, Fox said that its regional broadcasts had their best performing Week 1 since 2016 as well, garnering 13.53 million viewers, up 6% from last year. 

At the same time, the second most-viewed NFL game across the first two weeks of the 2020 season also came from Week 1. The NFL Kickoff game between the Super Bowl LIV champion Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans on Sept. 10 drew the largest prime-time audience for NBC since the Oscars, even though viewership was down compared to last year. 

The game drew 20.6 million viewers, down 7.2% compared to the 22.2 million viewers who watched the 2019 NFL Kickoff game between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears — the most watched season opener since 2016. 

The NFL has dominated TV viewership since its return, showing how eager fans were for the season, but also that the league can continue to draw large audiences in the era of increased streaming . 

But at the same time with the rise of streaming platforms, a successful NFL season will help networks from losing customers that may otherwise stop paying for traditional cable packages.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NFL Ratings Continue to Surge: CBS and NBC on a Record Pace

NBC is averaging 24.7 million viewers per game for “Sunday Night Football.”

World Series Games 1–2 TV Ratings Are Up With U.S., Canada Combined

U.S. viewership is expectedly down, but it is boosted significantly by Canada.

Sports Equinox 2025 Shows How Fragmented Sports TV Has Become

Multiple streaming services are needed to watch Monday’s games.
Oct 24, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Paul Reed (7) celebrates with guard Cade Cunningham (2) after a play during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center.

‘On the Bench’ Analysts Aim to Give NBA Viewers Courtside Access

Austin Rivers and Robbie Hummel will deliver reports straight from the bench.

Featured Today

September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium

NFL Fall Meeting: 7 Big Topics Among Team Owners 

Media, facilities, and labor highlight some of the key areas of concern.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Isaiah West (32) runs the ball in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin
October 25, 2025

NIL Has Birthed a Third-Party Cottage Industry—and It’s a Mess

There’s no limit to how much players can make from NIL deals.
Christie's
October 21, 2025

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
YouTube/ Multiple streaming services appear on a Roku TV.

YouTube in Another Carriage Dispute, This Time With Disney

ESPN and ABC could be dropped from the No. 4 U.S. pay-TV distributor.
May 17, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Dominguez (24) shakes hands with New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) after the top of the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium.
October 23, 2025

Mets, Yankees, and the Nielsen Debate That Won’t Go Away

Weeks after the end of the MLB regular season, viewership issues remain.
Oct 21, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) keeps the ball away from Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the second half at Paycom Center
October 23, 2025

NBA’s NBC Return Draws 5.9M Viewers, Best Opener Since 2010

Thunder vs. Rockets peaked at 7.1 million viewers.
Sponsored

Why Alexis Ohanian Is Betting Big on Women’s Sports

Alexis Ohanian reflects on his evolution from Reddit cofounder to one of today’s most dynamic sports investors.
Brian Windhorst
October 23, 2025

Brian Windhorst Details Emergency Landing on Omaha–L.A. Flight

The pilots and flight attendants had a communication issue.
October 22, 2025

YouTube Stars Help Bring Back Golf Channel’s ‘Big Break’

The show will return in 2026 after an 11-year hiatus.
Candace Parker
October 22, 2025

Candace Parker Wants NFL-Style Coverage From NBA Media

Amazon will stream its first NBA doubleheader Friday.
Netflix
October 21, 2025

Netflix Staying on the Sidelines As TNT Sports Parent Seeks Buyer

The streaming giant shows little interest in acquisition possibilities.