Sports Media Watch

Fans watch batting practice before Game 1 of baseball's World Series, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Milwaukee, between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

What will the World Series ratings tell us?

2 weeks ago

More Headlines

Atlanta Dream's Allisha Gray (15) reacts during the second half of Game 6 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Weekday matinee WNBA Finals Game 6 audience on par with primetime games

3 days ago

Despite starting at 12:30 PM ET on a weekday, Game 6 of the WNBA Finals averaged an audience in line...

The Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after winning baseball's World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

MLB Postseason viewership hurt by World Series, but still on the high side

3 days ago

The MLB Postseason was among the most-watched in recent years, but a shorter and lesser-watched World Series knocked viewership further...

Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray, foreground right, walks toward the bench as Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes, left, is congratulated by teammates after scoring during the second half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

WNBA Finals nears Game 5 high, but viewership takes hit from competition

Facing its toughest competition yet, the WNBA Finals viewership held up about as well as one could expect Monday night....

Atlanta, GA - March 7, 2026 - Turner Studios: 2026 NBA marketing campaign featuring Inside the NBA on ESPN.
(Photo by Allen Kee / ESPN Images)

ESPN reportedly committed to “Inside the NBA” sans Johnson, Barkley

The TNT-produced "Inside the NBA" would have a far different look if it continues past this season, but that would...

NFL Sunday Ticket verdict reinstated by Ninth Circuit panel

by Derek Futterman

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reinstated a previously overturned district court jury verdict finding that...

Inglewood, CA - October 12, 2026 - SoFi Stadium: Troy Aikman prior to a regular season Monday Night Football game.
(Photo by Phil Ellsworth / ESPN Images)

ESPN ‘reluctant’ to resume talks with Aikman over cost-cutting, Buck rift

The acrimony between Joe Buck and Troy Aikman is generating most of the headlines, but as in most cases, it...

Seattle Seahawks nose tackle Byron Murphy II (91) attempts to sack Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during an NFL football game in Seattle, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben VanHouten)

NFL viewership growth is picking up pace

NFL viewership is trending further ahead of last year's pace by the week. NFL regular season windows were averaging 18.4...

Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt watches his solo home run off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ian Seymour, right, leave the park during the 12th inning of Game 4 of baseball's World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla., between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

World Series viewership bounces back in final games

After the bottom fell out in Game 3, World Series viewership rebounded in the final games. Tuesday's Brewers-Rays World Series...

New York, NY - May 12, 2026 - Jacob Javits Convention Center: Troy Aikman on the red carpet for the 2026 Disney Upfront.
(Photo by Phil Ellsworth / ESPN Images)

Aikman raises doubts about his future in broadcasting

After 25-straight years on a lead NFL broadcast team, ESPN NFL analyst Troy Aikman now sees his future in television...

New roles, layoffs, as Skydance reorganizes combined CBS and TNT sports division

by Derek Futterman

The combination of CBS and TNT Sports will result in new roles for some prominent executives, and layoffs for others....

SMW Podcast

Bomani Jones joins the pod, plus thoughts on Ernie Johnson's exit, World Series ratings and more

0:000:00

Nielsen has reprocessed the viewership for NBC’s four NFL games from Week 1-3 of the season. The Patriots-Seahawks Kickoff Game has been updated to 25.2 million, up from an originally-reported 25.1 million. The Week 1 Cowboys-Giants “Sunday Night Football” game has been updated to 25.82 million, up from 25.66 million. Colts-Chiefs the following week has been updated to 24.43 million, up from 24.29 million. Finally, Rams-Broncos in Week 3 has been updated to 20.96 million, up from 20.77 million.

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CBS Sports’ Super Bowl LVIII Media Day press conference on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at the Mandalay Bay for Super Bowl LVIII. Pictured: J.J. Watt. Photo: Mary Kouw/CBS ©2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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CBS Sports preparing for new-look CFB broadcast, production team

Texas quarterback Arch Manning, left, celebrates with a jump in the end zone with Texas running back Michael Terry III (11) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)

ABC

ABC “Saturday Night Football” is top CFB window of week eight, season

Members of the Tampa Bay Rays watch during the seventh inning of Game 3 of baseball's World Series, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in St. Petersburg, Fla., between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

FOX

World Series rout nears viewership low on competitive night

6 days ago

Philadelphia 76ers' LeBron James plays during an NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Amazon

NBA Opening Week viewership hits high for second-straight year

6 days ago

New York, NY - June 8, 2026 - Madison Square Garden: Ernie Johnson on the set of Inside the NBA prior to game three of the 2026 NBA Finals.
(Photo by Marcus Stevens / ESPN Images)

Broadcasters

Ernie Johnson leaving “Inside the NBA” at end of season

6 days ago

Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) attempts to shoot against Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes (41) in the second half during Game 4 of the WNBA basketball finals on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

NBC

Earlier start impacts viewership, but WNBA Finals still hits Game 4 high

7 days ago

Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Sal Frelick rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of Game 2 of baseball's World Series, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Milwaukee, between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

FOX

Brewers-Rays World Series audience opens not far off Dodgers-Jays