NFL Viewership Surge Fuels Broadcast TV Resurgence in September

Broadcast television viewership surged in September. The NFL season’s kickoff was the primary driver. According to Nielsen’s Gauge report, broadcast networks captured 22.3% of all TV use.

This marks a significant rebound from a sluggish summer. It is the highest share for broadcast since last January. The data covers the period from September 1st to 28th.

Football Dominates Top Broadcast and Cable Slots

The top 15 network broadcasts were all NFL games. Fox’s September 14th game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs led the pack. It drew an audience of 33.8 million viewers.

CBS, Fox, and NBC all benefited from the football boom. Sports accounted for a full third of all network viewing for the month. A change in Nielsen’s data collection may have also contributed to the increase.

Cable television held a 22.3% share of TV use. ESPN and NFL Network broadcasts claimed the top five cable programs. Combined, linear TV platforms reached 44.6% of all viewing.

Streaming Share Declines as Seasonal Patterns Shift

Streaming’s dominance eased slightly in September. The platform held a 45.2% share of TV use. This is down from a record high in July.

The decline is attributed to seasonal viewing habits. The summer boom of original streaming content has slowed. While Prime Video’s *Thursday Night Football* performed well, streamers have less live sports inventory than traditional networks.

YouTube remained the top individual streaming service. Its share of TV use was 12.6%. However, this represents a second consecutive monthly decline for the platform.

The data confirms the NFL’s unparalleled power to draw a linear television audience. This NFL viewership surge provides a vital seasonal boost to broadcasters competing in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.

Thought you’d like to know-

What caused the broadcast TV increase in September?

The start of the NFL season was the main factor. NFL games occupied all of the top 15 network broadcasts. This drove a significant share of viewers back to traditional broadcast channels.

Did cable TV also see a boost from the NFL?

Yes, cable television held steady. ESPN and NFL Network telecasts were the most-watched programs on cable. The NFL’s influence extended across both broadcast and cable platforms.

Why did streaming’s share of TV use go down?

Streaming viewership often dips after the summer. There are fewer new original series releases. Broadcast and cable also gain strength from their extensive live sports coverage.

Which streaming service was the most watched?

YouTube remained the leading individual streaming service. It accounted for 12.6% of all TV use. Its lead, however, narrowed for the second straight month.

How does Nielsen gather this TV viewership data?

Nielsen uses a representative panel of households. It measures TV use across linear broadcast, cable, and streaming. Recent methodology updates aim to improve accuracy.