In a remarkable display of viewership, sports events made up 96 of the top 100 most-watched telecasts in 2025, tying the all-time record set in 2023.
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sportsbusinessjournal.comdailymail.co.ukThis figure represents a significant increase from the previous year, where only 87 telecasts were sports-related, largely due to the presence of the Olympics and a presidential election in 2024.
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sportsbusinessjournal.comFootball was the standout sport, with college and NFL games comprising 92 of the top 100 telecasts.
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sportsbusinessjournal.comdailymail.co.ukThe NFL alone is expected to account for approximately 84 of these telecasts, although this number is slightly below the record of 93 games set in 2023.
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sportsbusinessjournal.comThe expanded College Football Playoff (CFP), which now includes 12 teams, is projected to secure a record eight spots in the top 100, highlighting the growing popularity of college football.
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sportsbusinessjournal.comdailymail.co.ukAmong the notable events, the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs attracted an estimated 127.7 million viewers, marking it as the most-watched Super Bowl in history.
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dailymail.co.ukAdditionally, the World Series, featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, saw Games 6 and 7 make the top 100 list, the first time Major League Baseball (MLB) has achieved this since 2019.
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sportsbusinessjournal.comdailymail.co.ukThe NCAA Men's Championship Game also returned to the top 100, reclaiming its spot after the women's championship game had taken its place the previous year, thanks to the excitement surrounding Iowa and star player Caitlin Clark.
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sportsbusinessjournal.comFurthermore, the Kentucky Derby made a comeback to the top 100 for the first time since 2022, showcasing its enduring appeal.
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sportsbusinessjournal.comdailymail.co.ukInterestingly, only four non-sports telecasts made it into the top 100.These included two political events: President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress and his inauguration.
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sportsbusinessjournal.comThe other two were the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Oscars, underscoring the dominance of sports in American television viewing habits.
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sportsbusinessjournal.comdailymail.co.ukThis data reflects the calendar year of 2025 and is based on Nielsen-measured telecasts, excluding programs that do not meet the standard measurement criteria, such as Netflix boxing matches and shows under 30 minutes.
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sportsbusinessjournal.comAs sports continue to captivate audiences, the implications for advertisers and broadcasters are significant.The overwhelming success of sports programming suggests that networks will likely continue to invest heavily in live sports events, which consistently draw large audiences and generate substantial advertising revenue.
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dailymail.co.ukIn conclusion, the year 2025 has reaffirmed the central role of sports in American culture, with football leading the charge.As viewership trends evolve, it will be interesting to see how networks adapt their programming strategies to capitalize on this enduring interest in sports.
