Viewership for the NFL conference title games increased by double-digits over last year.
The NFL’s conference championship games averaged a 25.3 rating and 55.90 million viewers, up 5% in ratings and 11% in viewership from last year (24.2, 50.51M) and the highest average dating back to the 1991-92 season. The previous high was 53.70 million in the 2011-12 season. Keep in mind that out-of-home viewing was not included in Nielsen viewership estimates prior to 2020 (or measured at all prior to 2016).
The 25.3 household rating, which by definition does not include out-of-home viewing, was the highest since 2019 (26.1).
The Lions-49ers NFC Championship was the most-watched of the two games with 56.32 million viewers on FOX — the largest audience for any conference title game since 2012. The Chiefs-Ravens AFC Championship averaged 55.47 million on CBS, the highest for an AFC title game on record.
Overall, the NFL Playoffs has averaged an 18.0 rating and 37.77 million viewers entering the Super Bowl — up 5% in ratings and 9% in viewership from last year (17.2, 34.70M) and the most-watched postseason on record. Again, keep in mind out-of-home viewing was not included in Nielsen estimates prior to 2020.
As Championship Sunday is the NFL’s most-watched day of the year outside of the Super Bowl, there were few other sporting events of note. A Purdue-Rutgers men’s college basketball game on FOX led the non-NFL slate with a 0.53 and 1.05 million viewers. The NBC portion of the 24 Hours of Daytona auto race followed at a 0.50 (-17%) and 792,000 (-20%). NBC also drew a 0.50 (-21%) and 764,000 (-20%) for the men’s free skate at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, while ABC chipped in a 0.39 (+5%) and 631,000 (+2%) for X Games coverage.
Sunday, January 28 sports ratings
