NBC's NFL Kickoff Game Is Most-Watched Sporting Event Since PyeongChang Olympic

The Philadelphia Eagles' weather-delayed 18-12 victory over the ATLANTA Falcons in the NFL Kickoff Game last night averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 19.5 million viewers across NBC TV, NBC Sports Digital, and NFL Digital platforms - MAKING IT the most-watched sporting event since the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, according to Fast National data released today by Nielsen, and digital data from Adobe Analytics.

Last night's game is also the third-most watched show of any kind since the Winter Games (Academy Awards on 3/5/18 and 60 MINUTES on 3/25/18).

NBC's TV coverage registered an extremely rare viewership peak in the first quarter, due to the 45-minute weather delay, with an average of 21.7 million viewers from 9:30-9:45 p.m. ET.

Philadelphia's victory, highlighted by Jay Ajayi's two touchdown runs and two-point conversion rush, averaged 19.0 million viewers on NBC - more than doubling the combined primetime viewership on the other broadcast networks (9.4 million on ABC, CBS and FOX).

The Average Minute Audience (AMA) for last night's unauthenticated live stream via NBC Sports and NFL Digital platforms was 570,000 viewers - the highest ever for a game in the SNF package - and up 61% from last year's NFL Kickoff Game (355,000).

NBC Sports Digital's live stream of last night's NFL Kickoff game ranks as its most streamed SNF game ever. Fans consumed 108 million live streaming minutes across 2.0 million unique devices, up 31% and 55%, respectively, from last year's NFL Kickoff Game.

Last night's game (9 p.m.-12:04 a.m. ET) registered a national TV household rating of 11.2/23.

TOP METERED MARKETS FOR FALCONS-EAGLES:
1. Philadelphia 32.9/54
2. New Orleans 24.6/35
3. ATLANTA 19.8/36
4. Denver 17.5/33
5. Milwaukee 17.3/29
6. Richmond 17.0/28
7. Norfolk 16.6/29
8. Dallas 15.8/29
9. Greensboro 15.2/26
T10. Oklahoma City 14.7/25
T10. Albuquerque 14.7/24

NBC Sports' NFL Kickoff Weekend coverage continues this Sunday with the season opener of SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL as two-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Packers celebrate the start of the franchise's 100th season against Khalil Mack and the division rival Chicago Bears from Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET with Football Night in America, with a new, earlier 8:20 p.m. ET SNF kickoff time.

To post a comment, you must register and login.