Ratings Roundup: NFL Playoffs Set All Time Viewership Records Across All Networks

Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week’s edition, Los Angeles Lakers victory over Golden State Warriors draws largest audience across platforms in four years; NFC and AFC Championship Games score highest ratings in year; and more.

2023 NFL Playoffs Set All-Time Viewership Records

This year’s NFL playoffs averaged 38.5 million viewers (TV+Digital) for the Wild Card, Divisional and Conference Championship rounds – the most-watched playoffs ever (records date back to 1988).

The 38.5 million average viewers across the NFL playoffs are up +9% versus last year. Additionally, each individual round was up in viewership compared to last year, with the Wild Card round averaging 31.2 million (up +8%), Divisional Round averaging 40.0 million (up +7% and most-watched ever) and Championship Sunday averaging 56.1 million (up +11% and most-watched ever).

More than half of all Americans using television in NFL windows were watching NFL games with a share of 53.3% for the full playoffs – highest on record.

In total, 120.4 million viewers tuned in for Championship Sunday – the highest total unduplicated audience since 2016-17.

“Our record-breaking viewership is driven by the incredible play on the field that only the NFL postseason can deliver and presented by the best media partners in the business,” says Hans Schroeder, executive vice president of media distribution with the NFL. “All eyes now turn to Las Vegas for what will be the culmination of an unbelievable season with Super Bowl LVIII.”

The Kansas City Chiefs face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. ET at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on CBS, Paramount+, Nickelodeon and Univision, and on mobile with NFL+.

Los Angeles Lakers Victory Over Golden State Warriors on ABC Draws Largest Regular-Season NBA Audience Across Platforms in Four Years (Non-Christmas)

ABC’s broadcast of the Los Angeles Lakers thrilling victory over the Golden State Warriors on January 27 generated the largest regular-season NBA audience across platforms in four years (Non-Christmas). The overtime game averaged nearly four million viewers (3,968,000) and was up seven percent from last year’s comparable game between the Lakers and the Boston Celtics, according to Nielsen.

The Lakers vs. Warriors audience peaked on ABC at 11:45 p.m. ET with 5,235,000 viewers. The game broadcast won the night across all of television and in all key demos.

Overall, the NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC “Rivals Week” tripleheader averaged 2,915,000 viewers, up eight percent from last year. The Philadelphia 76ers vs. Denver Nuggets game on ABC averaged 2,623,000 viewers, while the Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks game was viewed by an average audience of 1,784,000.

“NFL On CBS” Delivers the Most-Watched AFC Championship Game Ever

CBS Sports continued its record-setting viewership with another 50+ million-viewer audience leading up to its presentation of Super Bowl LVIII.

AFC Championship Game Averages More Than 55 Million Viewers

• The NFL ON CBS scored the most-watched AFC Championship Game ever, averaging 55.473 million viewers in the early window (3:03-6:12 PM, ET). The previous record was 54.850 million viewers for Jets-Steelers in the late window (6:42-9:54 PM, ET) on Jan. 23, 2011.
• Along with its record-setting NFL Divisional Playoff (50.395 million viewers), the NFL ON CBS has delivered an audience of 50+ million viewers in back-to-back weeks.
• The audience for Chiefs-Ravens increased +17% vs. last year’s comparable early window (49ers-Eagles).
• Sunday’s game is the most-watched non-Super Bowl program on CBS in 30 years since the 1994 Winter Olympics in primetime (Feb. 25, 1994).
• The AFC Championship Game peaked with more than 64 million viewers (64.022).
• Paramount+ recorded its most-streamed live event ever and scored double-digit year-over-year growth in households, streaming minutes and average minute audience (AMA) vs. last year’s AFC Championship Game.

“NFL on CBS” Leads All Networks with Record-Setting Postseason Viewership

• The NFL ON CBS led all networks during the postseason averaging 45.607 million viewers, the Network’s best postseason viewership since the NFL returned to CBS in 1998 and up +12% vs. last year. This follows CBS Sports’ most-watched regular season since 1998.

FOX Scores Best NFC Championship Game Since 2012

• Projects to rank as FOX’s best NFC Championship Game performance since 2012 (57,635,000 viewers) and the fourth most-watched non-Super Bowl telecast in network history
• Up +19% over last year’s NFC Championship Game (47,502,000 viewers)
• Up +7% over last year’s AFC Championship Game that aired in the same window (53,126,000 viewers)
• Viewership peaked with a projected 58,967,000 viewers from 9:15 – 9:30 PM ET
• Home Markets: Detroit (46.3/79) | San Francisco (30.5/78)