The Unstoppable Rise of the NFL: Dominating the Streaming and Broadcast Landscape

The National Football League (NFL) has cemented its position as the undisputed king of American sports, captivating audiences across the nation and beyond. The latest Nielsen data paints a vivid picture of the league's unparalleled popularity, with its games and content driving viewership across various platforms, from traditional broadcast to the rapidly evolving streaming landscape.

Powering the Streaming Revolution: The NFL's Dominance Knows No Bounds

The NFL's Streaming Juggernaut

The NFL's influence on the streaming industry is undeniable. In September 2024, Thursday Night Football helped propel Amazon Prime Video to a remarkable 12% increase in viewership, allowing the platform to match its best-ever share of TV set usage in both September and October. This surge in viewership underscores the NFL's ability to drive audiences to streaming services, solidifying its position as a crucial content provider in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Peacock's NFL-Driven Audiences

The NFL's impact extends beyond Amazon Prime Video, as Peacock also benefited from the league's drawing power. The exclusive September 6 telecast of the Green Bay Packers versus the Philadelphia Eagles from São Paulo, Brazil, was the 11th most-streamed program in September, further demonstrating the NFL's ability to captivate audiences across various streaming platforms.

The Broadcast Dominance Continues

The NFL's influence is not limited to the streaming realm; it has also maintained its stronghold on traditional broadcast television. In September, NFL games accounted for 14 of the top 15 broadcast telecasts, with the top three garnering over 3 billion viewing minutes each on NBC, CBS, and FOX. This dominance underscores the league's enduring appeal and its ability to draw massive audiences to the broadcast networks.

Streaming's Steady Growth, Driven by the NFL

Despite a slight decline in overall streaming viewership from August, the NFL's impact on the industry remains evident. Streaming maintained its 41.0% share of TV in September, with Prime Video exhibiting the largest monthly growth among all reported streaming platforms. The league's content, including the highly anticipated "The Rings of Power" series, contributed significantly to this growth.

The Broader Streaming Landscape: Platforms on the Rise

While the NFL's influence is undeniable, the streaming industry as a whole continues to evolve and expand. Disney+ experienced a 5.2% bump in viewership, reaching a platform-best 2.5% share of TV in September. This gain was partially attributed to the availability of Hulu content on the platform for package subscribers, as well as the strong performance of the animated series "Bluey."

Netflix Retains Its Dominance

Netflix, the industry's long-standing leader, maintained its 7.9% share of TV in September and boasted the best-performing streaming title with its original series "The Perfect Couple," which garnered 5.5 billion viewing minutes. YouTube also held its ground, retaining its position as the leading streaming platform with 10.6% of TV usage in September.

The Streaming Landscape Evolves: Platforms on the Rise

The broader streaming landscape continues to evolve, with platforms like Disney+, Peacock, and Tubi experiencing significant year-over-year growth of over 30%. The Roku Channel, in particular, has emerged as a standout, with viewership growing 42% compared to last September.

Broadcast and Cable: Adapting to the NFL's Dominance

The NFL's influence extends beyond the streaming realm, impacting the traditional broadcast and cable television landscape as well. Broadcast viewership gained 0.6 share points in September, accounting for 22.6% of overall TV consumption. This boost was largely driven by the surge in NFL programming, as well as an increase in broadcast drama viewership following the seasonal debuts of several scripted series.

Cable's Adjustment to the NFL's Presence

Cable viewing, on the other hand, saw a slight decline of 0.2 share points in September, accounting for 26.1% of overall TV consumption. This partial loss was attributed to the large volume of sports and news content provided by the Olympics and the Democratic National Convention in the previous month. However, the ABC presidential debate provided some support for the cable category, with coverage netting nearly 22 million viewers across eight airing cable networks, including over 9 million viewers on FOX News Channel.

The NFL's Enduring Dominance: A Glimpse into the Future

The NFL's unparalleled popularity and its ability to captivate audiences across platforms suggest that the league's influence will only continue to grow in the years to come. As the streaming landscape evolves and traditional broadcast and cable networks adapt to the changing media landscape, the NFL's position as the undisputed king of American sports appears to be firmly cemented, solidifying its status as a cultural phenomenon that transcends the boundaries of the game itself.