In 2023, NFL games completely dominated the American sports television landscape. SportsMediaWatch.com reported that the 56 most-watched sporting events of the year were all NFL games, further cementing the NFL’s position as the most popular programming on American television.
Unsurprisingly, the most-watched game of the year was the Super Bowl, attracting a massive 112.17 million viewers. Following closely behind were the AFC and NFC Championship Games, as well as a divisional playoff game between the Cowboys and 49ers. The Cowboys’ traditional Thanksgiving game also secured a spot in the top 5. Notably, the most-watched Sunday regular-season game was Cowboys-Dolphins in Week 16.
The only non-NFL event to break into the top 5 was the Ohio State-Michigan game, which drew 19.07 million viewers. The Alabama-Georgia SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff National Championship Game followed closely behind, demonstrating the immense popularity of college football.
However, it’s evident that nothing in the sports television landscape can quite compare to the allure of NFL games. Even major events in other sports such as the NCAA men’s basketball final, the Kentucky Derby, NBA Finals, the Masters, and the World Series, were significantly lower on the list. The NFL continues to operate on a different level when it comes to drawing in viewers.
The dominance of the NFL in television viewership is remarkable, and 2023 solidified the league’s status as the top dog in American sports. With each passing year, it’s clear that the NFL shows no signs of loosening its grip on the title of the most-watched sporting events on television.
