Ratings Roundup: Record 115.1 Million Viewers for Super Bowl LVII By SVG Staff Friday, May 5, 2023 - 9:00 am
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Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week's edition, the NFL Draft has increased viewership from 2022, the Lakers/Warriors Conference Semifinal Game 1 is most watched NBA Playoff Round 1 in 24 years.
Round 1 Viewership of 2023 NFL Draft Surpasses 2022 Round 1 coverage of the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City was seen by an average audience of 11.4 million viewers (TV Digital) across ESPN, NFL Network, ABC, ESPN Deportes and digital channels - up 11% vs. Round 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft (10.3 million).
Thursday night's coverage of Round 1 had a total unduplicated audience of 34.2 million viewers - up 2% vs. 2022 (32.8 million).
All seven rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft are being presented across ABC, ESPN and NFL Network - the fifth straight year that The Walt Disney Company is working with the National Football League to offer a multi-network presentation of the Draft for all seven rounds.
Over 54 Million Fans Watch the 2023 NFL Draft The 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City had a total unduplicated audience in the United States of 54.4 million viewers for the three-day event.
Overall, the 2023 NFL Draft was seen by an average audience of 6.0 million viewers (TV Digital) across ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and digital channels - up 12% vs. 2022 (5.3 million).
Additionally, each day of the 2023 NFL Draft was up year-over-year in average audience (TV Digital) compared to 2022.
Over the three days, a total of 312,000 fans attended the NFL Draft in Kansas City.
Super Bowl LVII Viewership Update: Record 115.1 Million Viewers According to updated figures from Nielsen Media Research, 115.1 million viewers tuned in across FOX, FOX Deportes and digital streaming services for the network's presentation of Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, Feb. 12.
The most-watched Super Bowl ever (previous was 114.4 million viewers in 2015 for Super Bowl XLIX)
Up 2% over last year's reported performance (112.3 million viewers for Los Angeles Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals)
WBD Sports Delivers Record-Breaking Viewership for First Round of Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO Across TNT & TBS Warner Bros. Discovery Sports' First Round coverage of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs presented by GEICO set new all-time cable viewership records for total round and for TNT's thrilling Game 7 telecasts on Sunday.
TNT's telecast of the Florida Panthers' incredible come-from-behind victory over the Boston Bruins netted 3.2 million viewers, the most watched first round game of all-time on cable and the most watched first round game on any network in over a decade (Bruins/Capitals, 4/22/12). Viewership peaked at 4.1 million from 9:30-9:56 p.m. ET.
TNT's telecast of the Seattle Kraken taking out the defending Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche also drew in more than 2 million viewers, the most watched late window game of the first round ever.
TNT and TBS combined to average 959,000 viewers during the networks' first round coverage, the most watched first round on cable all time, and up 18% vs. 2022.
WBD Sports has now aired the four most watched first round games on cable all time.
WBD Sports' Sports Emmy-nominated NHL Playoff coverage will continue Thursday, May 4 on TNT with Second Round, Game 2s, starting with NHL on TNT Face Off presented by Verizon at 6:30 p.m. ET followed by Game 2 of Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs. Brendan Burke, Darren Pang and Aly Lozoff will be on the call from Scotiabank Arena.
At 9:30 p.m. the Dallas Stars will host the Seattle Kraken with Alex Faust calling play-by-play, along with commentary from Jennifer Botterill and Tarik El-Bashir.
Live game coverage throughout the postseason will be preceded by a 30-minute NHL on TNT Face Off Presented by Verizon hosted by Liam McHugh, alongside a rotating collection of esteemed analysts including hockey icon Wayne Gretzky, Vezina Trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist, 10-year NHL veteran Anson Carter and Calder Cup Champion Paul Bissonnette.
The studio team will also provide analysis and insights between periods during the Lexus First Intermission Report and the Discover Second Intermission Report, and the NHL on TNT Post Game Show, presented by Cadillac.
Date Time (ET) Matchup Network
Thurs., May 4 6:30 p.m. NHL on TNT Face Off presented by Verizon
Henrik Lundqvist, Anson Carter, Paul Bissonnette & Liam McHugh TNT
7 p.m. Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs, Game 2
Brendan Burke, Darren Pang & Aly Lozoff TNT
9:30 p.m. Seattle Kraken at Dallas Stars, Game 2
Alex Faust, Jennifer Botterill & Tarik El-Bashir TNT
Postgame NHL on TNT Post Game Show, presented by Cadillac
Lundqvist, Carter, Bissonnette & McHugh TNT
2023 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC Deliver Double-Digit First Round Viewership Increases The first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN/ESPN2/ABC averaged 881,000 total viewers and 389,000 viewers in the 18-49 demographic across 24 games, an increase of 22% and 19% versus last year. The Walt Disney Company networks had three of the top five first round games this year.
This past Monday's New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils Game 7 on ESPN averaged 2 million total viewers (peaking at 2.4 million) and 903,000 viewers in the 18-49 demographic, an increase of 25% and 34% versus the comparable game in 2022 (Boston-Carolina Game 7). It is now the third most-viewed first round game ever on cable.
Last Saturday's New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers Game 6 on ABC averaged 1.9 million total viewers (peaking at 2.3 million) and 761,000 viewers in the 18-49 demographic. It is the
