The sports broadcasting landscape shifted significantly this week as UFC 324 made a historic debut on Paramount+, while the NFL saw a surprising cooling of its conference championship TV ratings. According to the latest data, the UFC’s inaugural broadcast on the streamer reached 7.18 million global households, marking a new era for MMA distribution.
UFC 324: A Knockout Debut for Paramount+
The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s move to Paramount+ appears to be a massive win for the US$7.7 billion rights deal. The event achieved an average minute audience (AMA) of 4.96 million, setting a record for the most-watched live event in the platform’s history.
Key performance indicators from the night include:
- Peak Concurrent Audience: 5.93 million viewers.
- Subscriber Growth: Paramount+ reportedly gained one million new subscribers on the day of the fight.
- Social Impact: The main event generated over 5.5 million social media impressions.
This success comes as Paramount+ expands its UFC coverage beyond the US to include Australia and Latin America, solidifying its position as a global leader in combat sports streaming.
NFL Viewership Sees Slight Decline Ahead of Super Bowl LX
While the UFC celebrated record highs, the NFL’s conference championships experienced a dip. The AFC Championship, featuring the New England Patriots’ victory over the Denver Broncos, averaged 48.6 million viewers—a 15% drop compared to last year.
Conversely, the NFC Championship (Seattle Seahawks vs. LA Rams) saw a 4% year-over-year increase, drawing 46 million viewers. Both teams now head to Super Bowl LX, where NBC hopes to challenge last year’s record of 127.7 million viewers.
Global Sports Roundup: PGA Tour and Netflix Gains
- PGA Tour: The American Express tournament saw a massive 125% YoY increase in viewership for its third round.
- Netflix: Alex Honnold’s free-solo climb of Taipei 101 drew 6.2 million live views.
- Big Bash League: Australia’s cricket league saw its highest average audience on Seven in seven years, with the final reaching 1.45 million viewers.
- BBC Match of the Day: While linear TV viewership fell by 10%, digital content consumption for the football highlights show has doubled.