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NFL draws best average audience for first three rounds of playoffs

The combo of the AFC and NFC Championship games averaged 56.1 million viewers, the best figure ever for Championship SundayGetty Images

The NFL heads into the Super Bowl after averaging its best audience on record for the combination of the Wild Card, Divisional and Championship rounds (figures date back to 1988). The three rounds of games averaged 38.5 million viewers this season across NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 and Peacock. That’s up from 35.3 million last year, and up from 36.3 million in 2022. The previous high was 37.5 million back in 2016. The combo of the AFC and NFC Championship games averaged 56.1 million viewers, which is the best figure ever for Championship Sunday and up 11% from 2023. Divisional weekend averaged 40 million viewers, up 3%, while the Wild Card round averaged 31.2 million (+8%). Both Fox and CBS had their best NFL postseason audiences on record, averaging 44.7 million and 45.6 million viewers, respectively. The 12 games for the 2024 NFL Playoffs to date have totaled 83.5 billion minutes viewed, the best figure yet for the NFL.

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