• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, January 14, 2025

The List of the Top TV Broadcasts in 2023 Looks Familiar: NFL, NFL …

  • League takes 93 spots on the list of the top 100 U.S. TV broadcasts in 2023.
  • A series of strategic decisions fuels the NFL’s still-growing media dominance.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL closed out 2023 with 93 of the 100 most-watched broadcasts on U.S. television, across all programming. That’s not much of a surprise given the dominant status of the league for years. But the still-rising media power of the NFL is in part the result of several key initiatives this past year that have paid off handsomely. 

Super Bowl LVII last February and its average audience of 115.1 million viewers led the NFL’s 93 top-ranking games. That number is up from the NFL’s prior record of 82 on the 2022 list, and it’s way up from the 61 NFL games on the 2018 list. 

So, what changed? The NFL in 2023 did not have competition from some major television draws, such as an Olympics or a U.S. presidential debate, and the top non-NFL broadcast last year was the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (No. 23), which drew an average of 28.5 million viewers to set its own event record. But the overall results still were fueled by a series of league efforts, executed along with its domestic TV partners. Such as:

  • A heightened presence on Christmas Day, including a tripleheader of games involving Super Bowl contenders. That league scheduling decision resulted in banner ratings on the holiday. 
  • A 24% jump in Amazon’s average audience for Thursday Night Football, which set a streaming first by gaining two slots on the top 100 list. The first: a Nov. 30 Seattle Seahawks-Dallas Cowboys game that set an NFL streaming record with an average audience of 15.3 million and ranked 98th. And a Sept. 14 Minnesota Vikings-Philadelphia Eagles game ranked 100th with an average audience of 15.05 million. Amazon made a concerted effort to boost its audience in Year 2 of its exclusive TNF coverage with a series of new programming elements.
  • An expanded role for ABC with ESPN’s Monday Night Football games, helping fuel a 33% boost in viewership, to an average of 17.1 million, the best in the game window’s ESPN era, which began in 2006. MNF showed up on the top 100 list 12 times. In addition to wanting to reach additional viewers with the broadcast exposures on ABC, the recent actors’ and writers’ strikes created a dearth of entertainment programming that MNF helped fill on the network.
  • Further growth in the NFL’s established dominance on Thanksgiving, which once again included the year’s top regular season game of the year, with an average audience of 41.8 million for the Washington Commanders-Dallas Cowboys late afternoon game, ranking fifth on the top 100 list.

Altogether, it’s further evidence of the NFL’s clearly stated aim: to be everywhere it can with its 272 regular-season games and 13 playoff games.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Mar 5, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta smiles during the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Toyota Center.

Cubs, Mavs, Rockets Owners Co-Hosting Trump Reception With Zuckerberg

Owners of three sports teams are teaming up for an inauguration party.
Apr 7, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A general view of fans outside of Truist Park before the game on Opening Day between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds.

Philly Rips Page From Rival Playbook With Sports Complex Revamp

Philadelphia’s mayor frequently touts the influential Braves development.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard (18) yells instructions to his team during the College Football Playoff semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on Friday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

CFP Semifinals TV Ratings Drop 17% in 12-Team Format’s First Year

This year’s semifinal games averaged 19.2 million viewers on ESPN.

Featured Today

Race leader and eventual stage winner Primož ROGLIČ (SVN/RedBull-Bora-Hansgrohe) in the final kilometer up the finish climb of stage 19 from Logroño to Alto De Moncalvillo (ESP/168km) of the 79th La Vuelta Ciclista a España 2024 on 6 September. // Kristof Ramon / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202409060905 // Usage for editorial use only //Primož ROGLIČ (SVN/RedBull-Bora-Hansgrohe) congratulated by teammate Florian LIPOWITZ (DEU/RedBull - BORA - hansgrohe) after a very strong stage 13 from Lugo to Puerto De Ancares (ESP/171km) of the 79th La Vuelta Ciclista a España 2024 on 30 August

Red Bull Is on a Hot Streak in Sports. Can It Win..

The company is betting on a big future in cycling.
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) knocks the ball out of the hands of Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) and returns the fumble for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Cotton Bowl Classic during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on January, 10, 2025.
January 11, 2025

College Football Is Closer Than Ever to Perfecting the Championship Process

Despite valid criticisms, the first expanded Playoff is working.
Jan 2, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman (R) reacts on the sidelines in the final minute against the Georgia Bulldogs during the fourth quarter at Caesars Superdome.
January 9, 2025

Amid Realignment Mania, Notre Dame Stayed Independent. It Paid Off

How the CFP semifinal-bound Fighting Irish made their business model work.
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates a first-down catch against Oregon during the 2025 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
January 3, 2025

The Biggest Changes to College Sports Are Coming in 2025

Sweeping developments could affect the college sports foundation this year.
Nov 26, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; NBA on TNT television analyst Reggie Miller (left) and Kevin Harlan during the Los Angeles Lakers against the Phoenix Suns during an NBA Cup game at Footprint Center.

Kevin Harlan Nearing Deal to Join Amazon NBA Coverage

The announcer is in talks to join Ian Eagle on Prime Video.
January 14, 2025

DirecTV Launches MySports Package, Expands on Failed Venu Sports

DirecTV’s MySports package expands on Venu Sports but skips key players.
January 14, 2025

Don’t Call It a Comeback, but Reds Have Returned to RSN

The regional sports network operator reaches another revised MLB club rights agreement.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
"The Miz” jumps off the top rope during the Intercontinental Title Match with “The Ring General” Gunther at "WWE Monday Night Raw" at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
January 14, 2025

WWE Plots NBC Primetime Special Against Competitor AEW’s Summer Pay-Per-View

AEW was launched by Tony Khan, the son of Jaguars owner Shad Khan.
Packers fans watch as the 49ers celebrate one of their touchdowns on a giant TV screen at Mecca Sports Bar and Grill on Jan. 19, 2020.
January 13, 2025

Venu Sports Is Dead, but Its Skinny Bundle Blueprint Powers On

The discontinued streaming service will reach the market in a different way.
A Fox Sports camera broadcasts during the NCAA football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. Ohio State won 38-15.
January 13, 2025

Fox Sports Lawsuit Complicates Network’s Super Bowl Plans

Fox should “cut a deal” to settle toxic workplace lawsuit, says a crisis PR expert.
Nov 16, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; General view of a Fox Sports end zone broadcast camera before the game between the Utah Utes against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field.
opinion
January 11, 2025

Fox’s Terrible Week: Harassment Lawsuit, Venu Cancellation

Fox Sports was in the news for all the wrong reasons this week.