NFL takes the crown: How football dominated television in the United States in 2023

One thing never changes in the constantly changing landscape of television viewership: football's status as the unchallenged monarch of the United States. Examining 2023's viewing habits reveals that, even with the rise in streaming options, fans of professional football are still enthralled with the sport.

According to a startling number from Nielsen's most recent survey, professional football accounted for an astounding 93 of the top 100 television shows in 2023. This dominance is more than what was seen in 2022, when 82 NFL games were included in the top 100 telecasts. The numbers affirm the unwavering grip that football maintains on the nation's television sets.



Super Bowl breaks records
At the pinnacle of this football spectacle stands the Super Bowl, solidifying its status as the viewing standard. With an incredible attendance of 115.1 million viewers, the game that was televised by Fox on February 12 broke all previous records. With a 40.4 share, meaning that forty percent of American television sets were watched, the Super Bowl continues to be a unique cultural event.


President Joseph Biden's State of the Union address was the one event that broke the dominance of football watching within the football-dominated list. Broadcast across multiple networks, it drew the attention of 27.3 million viewers, showcasing the influence of significant political moments.

Highest non-NFL viewership
Even though football accounted for the majority, a few non-NFL telecasts were noteworthy. As the most watched non-NFL telecasts in 2023, the following were: the 97th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day on NBC (22.3 million), the Michigan-Ohio State game on Fox (19.1 million), the 95th Academy Awards on ABC (18.8 million), Alabama's upset of Georgia in the SEC title game (17.5 million), Georgia's victory over TCU in the College Football Playoff title game (17.2 million), and an episode of Next Level Chef on Fox (15.7 million).

FAQs:
Q1: What was the most-watched television broadcast in 2023?
A1: The Super Bowl on Feb. 12, broadcasted by Fox, claimed this title with a record-breaking 115.1 million viewers.

Q2: How many of the top 100 telecasts in 2023 were related to professional football?
A2: An astounding 93 out of the top 100 telecasts were dedicated to professional football, as per Nielsen's report.

Q3: What event interrupted the football-watching streak in 2023?
A3: President Joseph Biden's State of the Union address, broadcasted on multiple networks, managed to interrupt the football-watching streak, attracting 27.3 million viewers.