NFL average TV ratings for the regular season (YoY change):
1) 2015 – 18.7M
2) 2016 – 16.5M (↓ 12%)
3) 2017 – 15.0M (↓ 9%)
4) 2018 – 15.8M (↑ 6%)
5) 2019 – 16.5M (↑ 4%)
Total viewership for past 10 Super Bowls (YoY change) according to Sports Media Watch:
1) 2010 – NO-IND (CBS) – 106.5M (↑ 8%)
2) 2011 – GB-PIT (FOX) – 111.0M (↑ 4%)
3) 2012 – NYG-NE (NBC) – 111.4M (↑ 0%)
4) 2013 – BAL-SF (CBS) – 108.7M (↓ 2%)
5) 2014 – SEA-DEN (FOX) – 112.2M (↑ 3%)
6) 2015 – NE-SEA (NBC) – 114.4M (↑ 2%)
7) 2016 – DEN-CAR (CBS) – 111.9M (↓ 2%)
8) 2017 – NE-ATL (FOX) – 113.3M (↑ 1%)
9) 2018 – PHI-NE (NBC) – 106.0M (↓ 6%)
10) 2019 – NE-LAR (CBS) – 101.3M (↓ 4%)
FYI: The Super Bowl has always been the most popular show on TV.
The difference in Nielsen HH rating between the Super Bowl and #1 primetime show, according to Michael Mulvihill:
1) 1969 – ↑ 13%
2) 1979 – ↑ 54%
3) 1989 – ↑ 70%
4) 1999 – ↑ 97%
5) 2009 – ↑ 192%
6) 2019 – ↑ 414%
Our prediction: Total viewership grows 1.7% YoY (↑ 1.7M) to 103M.
More #1: Ratings up, future bright: NFL rebounds off troubled seasons
