The year 2024 confirmed the dominance of sports in American entertainment, with the NFL leading the charge in prime-time television ratings. An astounding 75 of the top 100 broadcasts were sporting events, underscoring a nationwide enthusiasm for live sports. The highlight of the year was undoubtedly Super Bowl LVIII, which became the most-watched television event in U.S. history.
The duel between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers captivated an enormous audience. An average of 120 million viewers tuned in to watch the Chiefs secure their second consecutive Lombardi Trophy, with over 123 million watching across all platforms. This marked a significant milestone for the NFL, reinforcing its status as America’s favorite sport.
NFL events filled the charts, with 45 broadcasts making the list. The only non-sporting telecast in the top 12 was a presidential debate, which collected about 20 million views. Events like the Oscars and editions of CBS’ 60 Minutes trailed far behind sports offerings.
Baseball made a noteworthy return to prime-time viewing as well. All five games of the World Series featuring a classic matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees drew significant interest. This resurgence was a positive sign for Major League Baseball as it seeks to reclaim a larger share of the viewing audience.
In a shift for NCAA sports, the Women’s Basketball Championship made the top 100, while the Men’s Championship did not. The success of standout players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese helped elevate the women’s game, drawing in viewers eager to see their performances.
Viewers also showed strong support for the 2024 Paris Olympics, with 19 broadcasts gaining entry into the exclusive top 100. The NBA maintained its relevance too, with four out of five Finals games featured in the rankings.
The NBA’s future looks promising with a new 11-year broadcasting agreement. This will see the league’s games distributed among multiple networks, including NBC, ESPN, ABC, Amazon Prime, and others. NBC emerged as a significant player, boosting its ranking by securing many primetime slots.
The landscape of sports broadcasting is evolving, and 2024 illustrated that the appetite for live sports remains robust. As networks vie for viewer attention, the excitement surrounding sporting events is unlikely to diminish anytime soon.
