Broadcast Networks See‍ Viewership ⁢Surge in January Due to Sports

Broadcast and ‌cable networks saw a boost in⁤ viewership‍ in January, largely driven by the ‌NFL and college football playoffs. The NFL⁤ playoffs dominated Nielsen’s january ratings, with​ the conference championship games on ‌Jan. 26 attracting 57.4 million⁢ viewers on CBS and 44.2 million on ​Fox.

Drama viewing on broadcast ‌networks increased⁢ by 15% from December,⁣ fueled by the return of⁢ several‍ popular shows, while‍ news viewership ⁢grew‍ 18%, fueled partly by the​ presidential inauguration. Cable news viewership also soared, rising 26% ‌from December. However, ESPN’s College Football Playoffs dominated ‍cable, claiming the top seven most-watched​ telecasts of the month.

Despite‍ a slight⁣ dip from December,‍ streaming held​ a strong share of viewership. With 42.6%, January marked the second-highest share for ⁣streaming in Nielsen’s history. ‌Netflix’s Squid​ Game emerged as the most watched series ⁣of⁣ the ⁤month,⁢ garnering over ​9 billion minutes of viewing and helping propel Netflix to its highest​ share of all‌ TV use at 8.6%.

Prime ​video’s NFL wild-card game contributed to Jan. 11 becoming the second-biggest day for streaming volume on record (47 ⁤billion ⁢minutes ⁤across all platforms), trailing only Christmas⁤ 2024 (51.2 billion minutes). The Prime Video playoff game,averaging 22.07 million viewers over ⁣its duration, accounted for approximately⁢ 4 billion‍ of those minutes.

Starting this month, ‌Nielsen has ‌combined Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ into a single Disney streaming number due ‍to Hulu and ESPN+⁤ content also being accessible through ‌Disney+ for some subscribers.

Nielsen's platform and streaming service rankings for January appear below:

What impact did teh NFL playoffs have on viewership across various platforms (broadcast, cable, and streaming)?

Broadcast‌ Networks See Viewership Surge⁣ in January ‌Due too Sports – FAQs

Q: What drove the increase in broadcast and cable viewership in January?

A: The NFL and college football playoffs were the main drivers of the viewership surge. The NFL conference championship games ​attracted massive audiences, with over 57 ⁣million viewers on CBS and 44 million on‍ Fox.

Q:⁣ How did streaming viewership perform in January?

A: Despite a slight dip from December, streaming‌ held a strong share of ⁤viewership, ​reaching 42.6%⁤ – the second-highest ⁢share in Nielsen’s history. Netflix’s Squid ‌Game was the most-watched series, ​further boosting Netflix’s share.

Q: What about​ Prime ⁣Video? Did it play ​a role ⁢in streaming viewership?

A: Yes, Prime Video’s NFL wild-card game contributed to January 11th becoming the second-biggest day for streaming volume on record. The game averaged 22 million viewers‌ and accounted for a meaningful portion of the total streaming minutes.

Q: Why​ is the Disney streaming number now a ‌combined figure for Disney+, Hulu, and⁣ ESPN+?

A: Nielsen has started ‍combining these services​ due to the overlapping content accessibility. Some Disney+ subscribers can also access Hulu and ESPN+ content via​ their Disney+ accounts.

This January, sports clearly reigned supreme, driving impressive viewership numbers across broadcast and ⁤cable networks. Streaming, however, remained a significant player,​ proving its enduring appeal with​ record-breaking viewership on ‍certain days. From the thrill of the playoffs to the global phenomenon of Squid game, January⁣ showcased the ‍diverse and ⁤captivating world of entertainment.