The NFL‘s grip on American television remained firm in 2024, even with a minor decrease in viewership compared to the record-breaking 2023 season. Front Office Sports reports the league averaged 17.5 million viewers per game across all broadcast networks, a 2% decline from 2023’s impressive 17.9 million.
NFL Ratings Decline in 2024: What’s Driving the Numbers Down This Season?
Amazon experienced notable growth in its Thursday Night Football broadcasts, recording an 11% year-over-year increase, with 13.2 million average viewers. When factoring in its Black Friday game, the increase reached 13%, showcasing the platform’s expanding influence in NFL coverage.
NBC’s Sunday Night Football performed impressively, averaging 21.6 million viewers—up 1% from 2023. Digital streaming on Peacock and NBCSports.com saw a massive 38% jump, further underlining the league’s adaptability to evolving viewing habits.
Fox, though down 3%, maintained strong numbers with 18.4 million average viewers for its broadcasts. Its marquee program, America’s Game of the Week, continued to lead all NFL broadcasts, drawing an average of 23.9 million viewers. Meanwhile, ESPN celebrated its second-best year in 24 years of airing Monday Night Football, despite a 14% drop, primarily attributed to the absence of simulcasts on ABC that boosted 2023’s numbers.
Netflix made its debut in the NFL broadcasting space on Christmas, drawing an audience of over 24 million for its signature doubleheader—a testament to the league’s exploration of new platforms.
Thanksgiving’s late-afternoon game between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys emerged as the season’s most-watched game, attracting a massive audience despite both teams having losing records. This further cemented the NFL’s unparalleled ability to draw viewers, irrespective of team standings.
2024, being a Presidential Election year, also played a role in the slight dip in viewership. Historically, election years witness a temporary decline in NFL ratings, with numbers recovering after Election Day. However, the league still dominated the top 100 broadcasts, claiming 70 slots, including 13 of the top 15. The only non-NFL entries in the top 15 were September’s Presidential Debate and March’s Oscars.
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The NFL’s adaptability across platforms—whether traditional broadcasts or digital streaming—underscored its unmatched entertainment value. As Front Office Sports noted, “2023 had a 7% increase and was one of the most-watched seasons in league history,” making a slight dip in 2024 expected. The league remains untouchable, proving once again that no event—not politics, award shows, or even the Olympics—can challenge football’s reign over American screens.
