2022 ratings wrap: Another dominant year for NFL

INGLEWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 13: Los Angeles Rams Quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws a pass to Los Angeles Rams Running Back Cam Akers (23) in the first half during Super Bowl LVI between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams on February 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

Winter Classic sets new cable mark, if still on low side

Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the social media websites X (Twitter) or Bluesky.

2023 ratings wrap: NFL sweeps top 50

by Jon Lewis

2 years ago

The NFL's dominance of the sports industry reached a new level in 2023.

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 02: General view of the exterior of the Rose Bowl Stadium before the Rose Bowl game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Utah Utes on January 2, 2023 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire)

Halftime: 50 most-watched sporting events of 2023 (so far)

by Jon Lewis

3 years ago

The annual halftime list of the most-watched sporting events so far.

Indianapolis, IN - January 8, 2022 - Lucas Oil Stadium: 2022 CFP National Championship.
(Photo by Phil Ellsworth / ESPN Images)

2022 in Review

by Adam Gostomelsky

3 years ago

2022 was a whirlwind of a year in sports media. While there was a little bit of everything, there...

Halftime: 50 most-watched sporting events of 2022 (so far)

by Jon Lewis

4 years ago

The NFL dominates more than usual.

Comments 5

Russell Ash says:

3 years ago

What was the most-watched boxing event of 2022?
esl says:

3 years ago

I think this list shows the dramatic decline of baseball in the interest of the public. Not 1 of the World Series games made the top 50 list. Remarkably it was only 20 years ago that the World Series was averaging over 15 million a game (no matter what team was playing). With viewership always over 20 million for game 6. I know it’s a different time, but no sport has lost so much popularity as baseball. The But baseball was as popular as football. It is shocking that MLB has allowed the sport to decline so greatly. I know it can never reach the high mark peak of averaging 30-40 million in the 70s and 80s. However, MLB should be able to get an average around 15 million for the world series. I do think MLB and its lackluster marketing and allowing analytics to take over the game has had the most impact on the decline. Will be interesting to see if the new rule changes have any impact in the ratings for the World Series this year.
- Cmasta says:
  
  3 years ago
  
  No doubt that the MLB has declined significantly in terms of national interest over the past few decades. The causation is complicated – modern football being near perfectly suited for television in terms of its nature and relative scarcity such that it entrenched its place as the last remaining bulwark of the monoculture is one reason. Similarly, fragmentation and greater consumer choice have definitely played a role.
  
  Baseball’s pace of play not jiving with modern sensibilities has also materially contributed. Halting or limiting further decline was likely the primary motivation behind the upcoming rule changes (and likely the further tinkering we will see ahead). We’ll have to see the results, if any, over the next decade or so.
  That said, I do think we can exaggerate the MLB’s decline by solely focusing on it as a national television product. Today it is primarily followed on a local / regional level by fans of specific teams. I’m a huge baseball fan, go to multiple games a year, watch most of my team’s games – but apart from the World Series, unless my team is playing I’ll probably skip 75% or more of the postseason national broadcasts. Anecdotally, I’m a bit of an outlier in my social group by even engaging at this level – most of my friends who are also fans of our team barely watch if we aren’t in it.
  
  MLB teams do very well in the postseason in their regional markets – I’m pretty sure they generally out rate everything else but the NFL competition (Paulsen may correct this). Similarly, the MLB has a considerable lead on the NBA in terms of regional television ratings (as well for most of the teams – the rest of television) and in its direct to consumer streaming products – which are also generally ream specific.
  
  Maybe this is a stable equilibrium – baseball by its nature could be a local or team specific product that is best followed regionally. Alternatively, this could also be an interlude before the MLB’s ultimate terminal decline in 20 years. This local popularity could be the twilight of its prior national prominence that isn’t sustainable in the long run without it stabilizing its position in the national conversation.
  
  Anyway, MLB should definitely do all it can to improve its national visibility and improve national television ratings– on that point we agree.
esl says:

3 years ago

FYI. In the 50 most-watched games of 2022, excluding the NFL, I think you missed the World Cup final.
- Paulsen says:
  
  3 years ago
  
  Thanks for catching that, will fix.