The NFL kicked off its 2024 season with a bang, not just on the field. Television viewership shows that reports of the league’s impending demise have been greatly exaggerated.
The league averaged an impressive 21 million viewers per game during its opening week.
The figure not only signifies a solid start to the season but also marks the highest on-record viewership for Week 1. The undiminished allure of American football continues unabated.
Brass at the NFL offices were understandably giddy over the news.
“A great start with the viewership. It was great to be back and a lot to be excited about,” said Hans Schroeder, the NFL’s executive vice president of media distribution.
NFL Ratings Breaking Records
The NFL has always been savvy about which games to highlight. Week 1 showcased that top-notch planning may have helped contribute to the ratings spike.
Matchups like the Kansas City Chiefs against the Baltimore Ravens, which drew significant attention, indicate a smart selection of games that are likely to pull in viewers due to rivalries, star players, or narrative stakes.
That game was broadcast as a Thursday season opener. Whereas fans are normally not thrilled with Thursday games, a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship made it a must-viewing from a football fan perspective.
Throw in the Taylor Swift narrative the league is heavily promoting and you have a ratings boon.
In fact, it was far and away the most-watched game, averaging 29.2 million on TV and digital. The matchup marked NBC’s second-largest regular season game since 2006.
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NFL’s Controversial Streaming Issue Might Be Paying Off
With games becoming increasingly accessible via streaming platforms like Peacock alongside traditional broadcasts, the NFL is capturing audiences who prefer or only have access to digital streaming.
This hybrid model of broadcasting might be capturing a younger demographic, as seen with the median age of viewers on streaming platforms being notably younger.
It’s a risk-reward model that seems to be paying off for the NFL in terms of ratings.
Using multiple platforms to air games and subsequently forcing die-hard fans to pay for those numerous platforms in order to keep up has irked fans.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has defended the tactic that some fans find greedy. In fact, he believes it’s actually “fan-friendly” to force people to chase games with their hard-earned money.
“Our fans are on different platforms and we need to reach them,” Goodell said. “But at the same time, over 85% of our games are still available on free television. We think we have the most fan-friendly policies for our fans and the media world of any league by far.”
Is he right? The NFL’s record ratings seem to suggest he’s onto something.
