• Loading stock data...
Thursday, June 26, 2025

NFL TV Ratings Up and Down in October As Election Draws Near

  • Several national broadcast windows saw viewership decrease in Week 8.
  • Ratings were up in September but have cooled off in October.
Peter Casey-Imagn Images

The impact of the fast-approaching presidential election may finally be making its presence felt in the NFL’s TV ratings.

With less than a week to go until Election Day, viewership results from Week 8 of the NFL regular season show another up-and-down set of performances for the league’s game broadcasts. 

CBS had the most-watched national TV window of the weekend, as an average of 24.89 million people tuned in to the network’s late Sunday afternoon NFL coverage, which included a Jayden Daniels Hail Mary to help the Commanders beat the Bears as time expired, and a seventh consecutive win for the unbeaten Chiefs, who beat the Raiders. 

But while that topped all other NFL game windows in Week 8, viewership was down 4% from the comparable 2023 slot, which was led by a Bengals-49ers game, according to Sports Media Watch. Meanwhile, Monday Night Football was also down 12% year over year, as ESPN dealt with competition from Game 3 of the World Series.

On the positive side, ratings for Sunday Night Football and Thursday Night Football increased compared to last season. NBC had 23.9 million viewers for the 49ers’ 30–24 win over the Cowboys, and Amazon Prime Video drew 12.6 million viewers for the Rams’ 30–20 upset of the Vikings.

Political Matters

Ahead of the season, there was concern the election could take attention away from sports, including the NFL, which sustained an 8% ratings hit in 2016, the last presidential cycle not impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

That was not the case in September, as the NFL season got off to a hot start. TV ratings were still up slightly after five weeks of the season but have been more measured in October

Additionally, NFL schedule tweaks like more exclusive streaming-game broadcasts and MNF doubleheaders have made it difficult to accurately compare the league’s TV ratings to prior seasons.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

opinion

From Woj Bombs to Shams Calm: ESPN Insider Avoids Draft Spoilers

Charania’s presence was fairly muted both on ESPN and social media.

Amazon NASCAR Ratings Down 17%, but Skew Younger

Prime Video averaged 2.16 million per race during its five-event stretch.

MLB’s Bold Bristol Plan: Inside the Renovation and Potential Records

Work accelerates to convert the massive motorsports venue for baseball.

Broadcasting With Benefits: Networks Gaining League Equity Is Now the Norm

ESPN gained an equity stake in the PLL as part of a rights deal.

Featured Today

Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.
Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.
June 15, 2025

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.
Jun 10, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands during the anthem against the Switzerland during the first at Geodis Park
June 14, 2025

Gold Cup Is Complicated for USMNT—but U.S. Soccer Has Its Eyes on..

Uncertain tournament success isn’t fazing forward-looking U.S. soccer.

Fever vs. Aces Draws 5th-Largest TV Audience of 2025 WNBA Season

ESPN will carry seven more Indiana Fever games this year.
June 19, 2025

Pacers Force Game 7, Could Spark Big Ratings Boost for NBA Finals

Game 7 could boost NBA Finals ratings after a slow start this year.
June 23, 2025

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
June 17, 2025

Stanley Cup Final Delivers Drama but Struggles for Eyeballs in U.S.

U.S. viewership fell while Canadian audiences for the event rose slightly.
June 17, 2025

Streaming Tops Linear for First Time, Sports Still Key to TV’s Resilience

Streaming hits another critical milestone in an accelerating media transition.
June 17, 2025

Zaslav Takes Pay Cut, TNT Sports Future Unclear in WBD Shake-Up

The TNT Sports parent company retools its executive pay after shareholder pushback.
Tyrese Haliburton
June 16, 2025

NBA Finals Ratings Up Again in Game 4 but Still Down Overall

More than nine million people watched Games 3 and 4.