Aren’t the ratings for live sports still much higher than anything else on TV? NFL for sure. I have to assume the NBA is doing better than many TV shows. Now, maybe not high enough to justify the crazy rights deals we saw the last 10-20 years. But until those rating are more in-line with regular shows, I assume things won’t change too much other than dollar amounts.
Top 50 highest rated telecasts of 2020
THE 50 TOP-RATED PRIMETIME TELECASTS OF 2020 (ADULTS 18-49)
RANK PROGRAM (NETWORK) RATING (18-49) DATE AIRED
1. SUPER BOWL LIV: Chiefs vs. 49ers (Fox) 30.66 2/2/2020
2. NFC CHAMPIONSHIP: 49ers vs. Packers (Fox) 12.56 1/19/2020
3. NFL PLAYOFFS: Packers vs. Seahwaks (Fox) 10.80 1/12/2020
4. THE MASKED SINGER (Post-Super Bowl Season 3 Premiere) (Fox) 9.36 2/2/2020
5. AFC WILDCARD PLAYOFF: Titans vs. Patriots (CBS) 9.04 1/4/2020
6. AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF: Titans vs. Ravens (CBS) 8.38 1/11/2020
7. COLLEGE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: LSU vs. Clemson (ESPN) 7.81 1/13/2020
8. NFL THURSDAY SPECIAL: Chiefs vs. Texans (NBC) 6.82 9/10/2020
9. NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Rams vs. Cowboys (NBC) 6.24 9/13/2020
10. GRAMMY AWARDS (CBS) 5.66 1/26/2020
11. THE OSCARS (ABC) 5.49 2/9/2020
12. NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Chiefs vs. Raiders (NBC) 5.45 11/22/2020
13. NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Packers vs. Saints (NBC) 5.38 9/27/2020
14. NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Seahawks vs. Patriots (NBC) 5.31 9/20/2020
15. NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Saints vs. Buccaneers (NBC) 5.09 11/8/2020
16. NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Chiefs vs. Ravens (ESPN) 4.97 9/28/2020
17. NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Eagles vs. Cowboys (NBC) 4.95 11/1/2020
18. NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Packers vs. Bears (NBC) 4.89 11/29/2020
19. GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS (NBC) 4.87 1/5/2020
20. NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Buccaneers vs. Bears (Fox/NFL) 4.77 10/8/2020
21. NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Patriots vs. Ravens (NBC) 4.52 11/15/2020
22. NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Eagles vs. 49ers (NBC) 4.55 10/4/2020
23. NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Cardinals vs. Seahawks (Fox/NFL) 4.52 11/19/2020
24. NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Buccaneers vs. Raiders (NBC) 4.38 10/25/2020
25. NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Falcons vs. Eagles (NBC) 4.22 10/11/2020
26. THE MASKED SINGER, S4 E9 “The Group C Finals” (Fox) 4.17 11/26/2020
27. NFL MONDAY FOOTBALL SPECIAL: Patriots vs. Chiefs (CBS) 4.10 10/5/2020
28. NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Packers vs. 49ers (Fox/NFL) 4.01 11/5/2020
29. NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Rams vs. Buccaneers (ESPN) 3.87 11/23/2020
30. NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Cardinals vs. Cowboys (ESPN) 3.80 10/19/2020
911: LONE STAR, S1 E1 Pilot (Fox) 3.80 1/19/2020
NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Buccaneers vs. Giants (ESPN) 3.80 11/2/2020
33. NFL SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: 49ers vs. Rams (NBC) 3.77 10/18/2020
34. NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Colts vs. Titans (Fox/NFL) 3.66 11/12/2020
35. ELECTION COVERAGE: SATURDAY (CNN) 3.62 11/7/2020
36. NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Saints vs. Chargers (ESPN) 3.50 10/12/2020
37. NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Broncos vs. Jets (Fox/NFL) 3.58 10/29/2020
38. ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE 10PM (Fox News) 3.48 11/3/2020
39. WORLD SERIES GAME 6: Dodgers vs. Rays (Fox) 3.45 10/27/2020
40. PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE (Fox News) 3.44 9/29/2020
41. NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Vikings vs. Bears (ESPN) 3.44 11/16/2020
42. NFL THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Giants vs. Eagles (Fox/NFL) 3.42 10/22/2020
ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE 9PM (Fox News) 3.42 11/3/2020
44. NFL MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: Rams vs. Bears (ESPN) 3.40 10/26/2020
45. THE MASKED SINGER, S3 E10 “The Super Nine Masked Singer Special: Groups A, B and C” (Fox) 3.37 4/1/2020
46. DISNEY FAMILY SING-A-LONG (ABC) 3.35 4/16/2020
47. NFL DRAFT (ESPN) 3.34 4/16/2020
48. ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE, 9 PM (CNN) 3.32 11/3/2020
49. ELECTION NIGHT COVERAGE, 10 PM (CNN) 3.29 11/3/2020
50. NBA FINALS, Game 5: Lakers vs. Heat (ABC) 3.28 10/9/2020
SOURCE: NIELSEN, 1/1/20 – 11/29/20. L7 DATA. ALL TELECASTS, BROADCAST AND CABLE (EXCLUDING TELECASTS WITH DURATIONS UNDER 25 MIN, INCLUDING SB AND NFC). BROADCAST PRIME, TELECAST WITH START TIMES WITHIN DAYPART (M-SAT 8P-11P; SUN 6:30P-11P).