Report: NFL Dominates US Top 100 Live Sport Telecasts Of 2023, Most Watched Golf Event Places 131st

The NFL covered 96 of the top-100 most watched sports events in the US, with the final round of The Masters outside the top 130

Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka and their two caddies walk up the seventh hole at Augusta National during the Masters
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Matt Cradock
By Matt Cradock
published

According to a report in the Sports Business Journal, it was the NFL that dominated the top 100 most-watched sports telecasts in the US, with golf not even cracking the top 130 in 2023.

In the piece, it is reported that 96 of the top 100-watched broadcasts are NFL-related, with the Super Bowl, unsurprisingly, top of the tree with 114.3 million. The only non NFL-related telecasts came from the college sector, with Ohio State-Michigan, Alabama-Georgia in the SEC Championship and the Georgia-TCU CFP title game to conclude last season amongst the 100.

In the case of golf, it was reported by Sports Business Journal's, Josh Carpenter, that golf's most viewed event was the final round of The Masters, which drew 12.1 million viewers on Sunday. This put the April event in the 131st spot in the rankings, which was 3 million behind the 100th spot - Thursday Night Football: Vikings-Eagles.

Back in October, at the Ryder Cup, US viewing figures for NBC’s coverage of Singles Sunday dropped by more than a million compared to 2018, with 1.414 million tuning in during Saturday afternoon's action, compared to 1.315 million over the course of the final day’s play.

Over in the UK though, Sky Sports reported record viewing numbers for a single Ryder Cup. The British broadcaster said the 2023 event was the most-watched edition ever thanks to an average of 785,000 fans tuning in during Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, up 38% from Whistling Straits in 2021 and 25% from Le Golf National in 2018.

Jon Rahm wins the 2023 Masters

Jon Rahm would claim his first Green Jacket in 2023

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It wasn't just golf where Sky have picked up record viewing figures. During the early part of 2024, teenage darts sensation Luke Littler’s semi final victory at the World Darts Championship attracted more viewers than the Ryder Cup, according to sports promoter, Eddie Hearn.

Hearn tweeted that the semi final match earned an audience of 2.32 million, beating the previous record for a darts match between Phil Taylor and Gary Anderson in 2015 which attracted 1.65 million.

Matt Cradock
Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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