Sport: Football Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

NFL viewership increases as league approaches halfway mark of season

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Nov 5, 2026, 7:00 PM

Last updated Nov 5, 2026

NFL viewership increases as league approaches halfway mark of season

Summary

Entering Week 9, NFL viewership has increased by 3% year-over-year, following a period of early-season declines. This rise comes amidst changes by Nielsen in how co-viewing is measured, which could partially account for the increase. NFL telecasts are averaging 18.4 million viewers, with top games featuring the Kansas City Chiefs attracting over 28 million viewers. Close games have also contributed, with 71 contests decided by one score and 38 featuring game-winning scores in the final five minutes or overtime this season. These dynamics suggest a stabilization of viewership figures as the season progresses.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•NFL viewership is up 3% year-over-year entering Week 9.
•Telecasts average 18.4 million viewers through Week 8.
•Chiefs-Raiders game drew 28.45 million viewers in October.
•71 games decided by eight points or fewer so far this season.
•Thursday Night Football trends up, averaging 17.6 million viewers.

Latest Updates

7:00 PMYahoo Sports — NFL viewership stabilizes after early-season declines as league nears midway point

What they're saying

"
After some viewership declines during the early portion of the season, the NFL is back on track. Entering Week 9, NFL viewership is up 3% year-over-year, according to a report by Austin Karp in Sports Business Journal. That increase is within the range that could be entirely attributed to Nielsen’s recent methodological changes that altered…
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Kansas City Chiefs Football