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Football dominates TV ratings as streaming surges

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 25, 2026, 4:10 AM

Last updated Sep 25, 2026

Football dominates TV ratings as streaming surges

Summary

Traditional television remains relevant due to football's strong viewer numbers. During the week of September 14-20, football programs topped Nielsen ratings, with FOX NFL Sunday attracting 27.2 million viewers. In contrast, streaming shows dominate the streaming, with no traditional networks in Nielsen's current top 10. The differences in viewer habits highlight sports' unique ability to create appointment viewing, compelling audiences to watch live rather than on-demand. With football maintaining strong ratings, the upcoming weeks will be pivotal for TV viewership trends.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Nine of Nielsen's top 10 programs for the week were football-related.
•Sports viewing is distinct, necessitating live watching unlike other entertainment.
•Nielsen reported streaming made up 49% of television usage in August 2026.
•The NFL's Week 2 average viewership ranks as most-watched on record.
•Traditional networks struggle to feature prominently in the streaming viewership.

Latest Updates

4:10 AMYahoo Sports — Why Football Remains Television’s Most Powerful Appointment Viewing

What they're saying

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"Traditional television has not disappeared. The audience has not disappeared. What has disappeared is the idea that everybody is going to watch the same entertainment simply because a network tells us when it’s on." The post Why Football Remains Television’s Most Powerful Appointment Viewing appeared first on Barrett Media.
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

NCAAF College Sports