NFL Football 2021 NFL Fans consist of the largest fan base in the U.S. NFL is by-far the most popular sport with the most annual revenue in the country. Football has the most youth participants of any sport at high school & college levels.
65% 53% 54% 74% 83K 67% 69% 124% male A18-49 A25-54 A35+ median HHI any college own home more likely to stream sports
NFL fans also watch these nets:
Source: Scarborough USA+ 2020 Release 2 *Revised 3-26-21* Total (Jan19-May20); A18+ who watch NFL Football on cable. Nets based on QTV ranking. Things to Know NFL Season 2021
Undisputed #1 sport! More than two-thirds (68%) of Americans are football fans. 1 Almost more time is spent watching NFL games than the next three sports combined.1
Never enough football Regular season expands to 17 games per team, giving an extra matchup to NFL Network & two to ESPN! NFLN’s Thursday Night Football starts each 2 fantasy football week for 43M participants, & ESPN’s Monday Night Football closes it out!2 MNF is the most-watched cable series for over 15 years.3
All NFL, all the time ESPN & NFLN own the fan with pregame, postgame & live game 3 coverage, sports commentary, and NFL-specific programs. Plus, NFLN is the only network dedicated to the NFL 24/7/365.
Source: (1) NFL Network Brand Sheet, 2/23/21. (2) Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association. (3) ESPN Press Room, 2020 Year in Review. NFL Season MNF remains cable’s most-watched series!1
ESPN scored again with 226M total viewers across 17 games, averaging 11.2M for live, nationally-exclusive games.2 NFLN totaled 191M viewers across 18 games, averaging 6M for live, nationally-exclusive games.2
The 2021 Regular Season expands to 17 games per team, giving us one more week of football! Also new, Peyton & Eli Manning headline alternate telecasts of 10 MNF matchups on ESP2 featuring guest celebrities & athletes.
54% 74% 67% 83K A25-54 A35+ college median HHI3
8/6-8/29/21 9/13/21-1/3/22 9/16-12/30/21 1/8/22 1/15-1/17/22 2/6/22 ESPN/ABC Wild Card Preseason Monday Night Football Thursday Night Football Pro Bowl Double-Header Weekend
Schedule subject to change. ^TNF had 7 nationally-exclusive NFLN games & 11 simulcast on FOX. ESPN had 14 nationally-exclusive games & 3 simulcast on ABC/ESPN2. Source: (1) ESPN 2020 Year in Review, 12/15/21. (2) Sports Media Watch, NFL Ratings for the 2020-21 season. (3) Scarborough USA+ 2020 Release 2 *Revised 3-26-21* Total (Jan19-May20); A18+ who watch NFL Football on cable. NFL Spanish-Language NFL sees viewership growth in Spanish-Language
Regular Season games air Monday nights on ESPN Deportes, most Thursday nights on FOX Deportes, and Sunday nights on Universo. The Playoffs are on ESPD, FOXD, and Universo. Super Bowl LVI is also on Universo.
Super Bowl Viewership Growth over Last Network Airing1,2,3 Super Bowl LV +37% over 2019 ESPD 647K Super Bowl LIV +16% over 2017 FOXD 757K Super Bowl LII +43% over 2015 UVSO 543K
63% 68% 40% 50K A25-54 A35+ college median HHI4
9/9/21-1/9/22 11/25/21 1/15/22-1/30/22 2/6/22 2/13/22 Wild Card, Divisional & Conference Pro Bowl in Super Bowl in Regular Season Thanksgiving Championship Rounds Las Vegas Los Angeles
Schedule subject to change. Source: (1) Sports Media Watch, NFL Ratings Page 2020-21. (2) FOX Sports Press Pass, 2/6/17 & 2/9/21. (3) Sports Media Watch, Annual Ratings Roundup. (4) Scarborough USA+ 2020 Release 2 *Revised 3-26-21* Total (Jan19-May20); A18+ who watch NFL Football in Spanish. Reach fans everywhere
Be sure your brand stands out to target sports fans as they follow the excitement online:
NBA MLB NFL/CFB
61% 62% 51% 40% 38% 43%
Stream video Check sports news/scores online
• Highly -targeted, customized online opportunity • Designed to reach your ideal customers • Follow fans across NBA, MLB, NFL and CFB
Source: Scarborough USA+ 2020 Release 1 Total (Jan19-May20), A18+ who watch NBA, MLB, or MNF/TNF/CFB. Your game plan to connect with sports fans
No matter where fans are, our multiscreen solutions offer more ad opportunities than any other local media outlet.
Sports Fan Ecosystem
Brand your message beyond game day
Reach fans anytime and anywhere
Deliver with more frequency and efficiency
Cable airs 96% of all sports programming1, while one-fifth of all live sports viewers watch on digital platforms2.
Source: (1) VAB, “No Days Off”. (2) eMarketer, “In the US, “How Americans are watching sports”, 7/7/21. Digital platforms include OTT, TV Everywhere, and vMVPDs.