How did the NFL impact TV viewership in October 2025?

The NFL significantly boosted viewership for broadcast networks on Sundays, increasing their share of total TV viewing.

Did streaming services benefit from NFL games in October?

Yes, streaming platforms like Peacock and Paramount+ saw increased viewership shares on days they carried NFL games.

What was broadcast TV's performance in October 2025?

Broadcast television achieved its highest viewing share of 2025 in October, driven by the NFL and new drama series.

Home / Sports / NFL Sundays Boost Broadcast TV Viewership

NFL Sundays Boost Broadcast TV Viewership

18 Nov

•

Summary

NFL games significantly increased broadcast network viewership on Sundays.
Streaming platforms also saw gains on days games aired live.
October marked broadcast television's highest viewing share of 2025.

NFL Sundays Boost Broadcast TV Viewership

The National Football League's immense influence on television viewing was strongly evident in October, propelling broadcast networks to a third consecutive month of audience growth. Nielsen data revealed that on Sundays, when multiple NFL games are broadcast, broadcast networks commanded 27.3% of all U.S. TV viewing. This stands in stark contrast to the 22% average viewership share from Monday through Saturday, demonstrating the league's powerful impact.

This NFL-driven viewership surge extended to streaming services that regularly air games. Peacock, which simulcasts NBC's Sunday Night Football, saw its share of total TV viewing rise to 2% on Sundays, up from 1.5% on other days. Similarly, Paramount+ experienced an increase from 1.2% to 1.6% on Sundays. Amazon's Prime Video, the home of Thursday Night Football, captured 6.4% of viewing on Thursdays, significantly higher than its overall October average of 3.8%.

Overall, October marked a strong period for broadcast television, achieving its highest viewing share of 2025 at 22.9%. This rise, aided by NFL games and the premieres of popular dramas, occurred while streaming held a commanding 45.7% of TV use and cable dipped slightly to 22.2%. YouTube remained the top streaming platform, with YouTube TV, Disney+, Paramount+, and Peacock all showing month-over-month gains.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.