# NFL television and streaming viewership trends

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/nfl-television-and-streaming-viewership-trends
> Updated: 2026-10-20T03:58:46.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

NFL programming has demonstrated strong television and streaming performance during the early weeks of the season. In late September, Nielsen data indicated that NFL telecasts occupied a significant portion of the top broadcast and cable spots, with Fox’s national window drawing 27.2 million viewers. During Week 2, game windows averaged 20.4 million viewers, a 6% increase from the previous year, while the Nielsen-measured streaming audience reached a record 1.6 million.

By late October, viewership trends continued to rise, specifically within the ‘Thursday Night Football’ series on Amazon Prime Video. The Week 6 matchup between the Seahawks and Broncos averaged 16.26 million viewers, setting a new record for a Week 6 edition of the program. The series has maintained a season average of 17.29 million viewers, representing a 9% increase compared to the same period in the previous season.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-20: NFL Thursday Night Football viewership reaches new record highs

NFL “Thursday Night Football” viewership hit a Week 6 record with 16.26 million viewers. The series continues to grow, with Week 7 featuring the Chicago Bears against the New England Patriots.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nfl-thursday-night-football-viewership-reaches-new-record-highs

### 2026-09-23: NFL programming dominates television ratings

NFL programming dominated television ratings for the week of September 14, with Week 2 viewership averaging 20.4 million viewers, marking a record high for the second week of the season.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nfl-programming-dominates-television-ratings

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Cite as: NFL television and streaming viewership trends. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/nfl-television-and-streaming-viewership-trends