All articles tagged with #television ratings
The 48th Kennedy Center Honors, hosted by Donald Trump, drew a record low viewership of 3.01 million on CBS, down from 4.1 million last year, amid controversy and changes at the institution, including Trump's involvement and a name change to The Trump Kennedy Center.
The 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade set a record with 34.3 million viewers across NBC and Peacock, marking an 8% increase from the previous year and making it the most-watched entertainment telecast in nearly seven years, with significant growth among younger viewers.
The CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal match between USA and Guatemala was the top telecast in key demos on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, with strong ratings on FS1, while other top shows included news and entertainment programs across various networks.
The women's NCAA championship game outdrew the men's title game for the first time, with an average of 18.9 million viewers, marking the second most-watched non-Olympic women’s sporting event on U.S. television. The audience for the women’s game peaked at 24.1 million during the final 15 minutes, and the in-home audience has steadily declined annually due to cord-cutting. The growth in viewership is attributed to the quality of the product and increased exposure, with the women's game benefiting from the rise of social media engagement and audience interest in women's sports overall.
Fans and sports media have expressed dissatisfaction with the tipoff times for the men's and women's NCAA championship games, with the women's game starting at 3 p.m. ET and the men's game at 9:20 p.m. ET. While some argue for a later start time to accommodate West Coast viewers, others advocate for a time that allows for maximum viewership. The debate centers around finding a balance between accommodating different time zones and maximizing television ratings, with networks weighing the preferences of East Coast and West Coast viewers. Despite the complaints, it seems unlikely that the tipoff times will change in the near future.
Thanks to the star power of Iowa's Caitlin Clark, women's college basketball has seen a surge in popularity, with record-breaking television ratings, increased Google searches, and a significant rise in tournament bracket participation. The NCAA women's tournament is now attracting more viewers than major sports events and entertainment releases, and ticket prices for the women's Final Four are often higher than the men's. This newfound attention signifies a significant shift in the sport's prominence and appeal to a broader audience.
The United Football League (UFL) debuted with solid television audiences over the weekend, with games broadcast on Fox and ESPN drawing in millions of viewers. The opening weekend numbers surpassed the full-season averages of the XFL and USFL from 2023, but it remains to be seen whether the UFL can sustain or improve upon these figures as the season progresses.
The United Football League (UFL) debuted with so-so attendance, drawing 14,153 fans for the opening game and 9,444 for the second game. The challenge of spring football leagues lies in attracting fans and avoiding shots of empty stands, with the timing of the UFL's launch during the NCAA basketball tournament and baseball season adding to the difficulty. The league will need to generate larger crowds and strong television ratings to establish itself in the competitive sports market.
The NFL plans to play two games on Christmas Day in 2024, with the four participating teams also playing on the previous Saturday. This move, aimed at maximizing television ratings, follows the league's recent success with holiday games. The Las Vegas Raiders' upset victory at the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day last year was a highlight of their season and led to interim head coach Antonio Pierce becoming the permanent coach. A poll asks whether fans would welcome the Raiders playing on Christmas Day again.
The NFL will continue its tradition of playing games on Christmas Day in 2024, with two matchups scheduled despite the holiday falling on a Wednesday. The league has seen significant television ratings for these games, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated that Wednesday games will not become a regular occurrence, with no notable increase in injuries from mid-week games. This tradition dates back to 1971, and the matchups for the 2024 games have yet to be determined.
Caitlin Clark's record-setting game for Iowa against Ohio State attracted over 4 million television viewers at its peak, making it the most watched women's regular-season basketball game since 1999. Clark scored 35 points and became the NCAA Division I overall career scoring leader during the Hawkeyes' 93-83 win, with an average viewership of 3.39 million and a high of 4.42 million late in the second half, surpassing the viewership of the Boston Celtics' game on ABC.
The NFL is reportedly displeased with the College Football Playoff's decision to schedule games on the same weekend as Week 16, historically used for Saturday games, leading to potential conflicts and competition for television ratings. While the current overlap is for 2024 and 2025 only, the situation may escalate if the CFP expands to 16 teams in 2026. Both sides face challenges in finding a resolution, as the NFL is not accustomed to adjusting its scheduling for others, and alternative game days for the CFP may not attract significant viewership.
Taylor Swift's presence at the Super Bowl contributed to a significant increase in female viewership, with five million more women tuning in compared to last year. Overall, women accounted for 47.5 percent of the total Super Bowl audience, narrowing the gender gap. Swift's public relationship with Travis Kelce, a three-time Super Bowl winner, has also drawn attention to the NFL, with women showing increased interest in the sport. Her influence has been evident throughout the NFL season, and her attendance at the Super Bowl further boosted television ratings, particularly among female viewers.
Super Bowl LVIII set a new television ratings record with 123.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched television broadcast since the moon landing. The game, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, surpassed the previous Super Bowl viewership record and was also simulcast on various platforms. The NFL's strong season and the presence of pop superstar Taylor Swift at the game have contributed to the massive audience, highlighting the league's ability to draw large live audiences in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.
The Chiefs-Ravens AFC Championship Game drew a record-breaking 55.47 million viewers on CBS, making it the most-watched AFC title game in history. Excluding the Super Bowl, it was the most-watched CBS program since the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics. Kansas City's win saw a 12% increase in ratings and a 17% increase in viewership compared to last year's NFC Championship, marking the most-watched early window conference title game on record. CBS finished the NFL postseason with its highest playoff average since resuming NFL coverage in the 1998-99 season.