Editor's note: This story has been revised from the print edition.
The NFL is such a strong media property that SportsBusiness Journal is devoting part of this week’s media page to the league’s preseason schedule.
The reason is all in the numbers. Last season NFL Network averaged 1.1 million viewers for 17 preseason games, despite the fact that many of the games ran opposite the Rio Olympics. Even more amazing, that 1.1 million viewer number does not include the home markets of the participating teams, which are always blacked out during NFL Network games.
| WEEK 1 |
| Wed. 8/9 7:30 p.m. ET |
Houston vs. Carolina |
| Thur. 8/10 8:00 p.m. ET |
Denver vs. Chicago |
| Fri. 8/11 7:00 p.m. ET |
Pittsburgh vs. N.Y. Giants |
| Fri. 8/11 10:00 p.m. ET* |
San Francisco vs. Kansas City |
| Sat. 8/12 9:00 p.m. ET |
Dallas vs. L.A. Rams |
| Sun. 8/13 1:30 p.m. ET |
Detroit vs. Indianapolis |
| Sun. 8/13 8:00 p.m. ET |
Seattle vs. L.A. Chargers |
| WEEK 2 |
| Fri. 8/18 10:00 p.m. ET |
Minnesota vs. Seattle |
| Sat. 8/19 3:00 p.m. ET |
Carolina vs. Tennessee |
| Sat. 8/19 7:00 p.m. ET |
Indianapolis vs. Dallas |
| Sat. 8/19 10:00 p.m. ET |
Denver vs. San Francisco |
| Sun. 8/20 4:00 p.m. ET |
Atlanta vs. Pittsburgh |
| Sun. 8/20 8:00 p.m. ET |
New Orleans vs. L.A. Chargers |
| WEEK 3 |
| Thur. 8/24 7:00 p.m. ET |
Miami vs. Philadelphia |
| WEEK 4 |
| Thur. 8/31 7:00 p.m. ET |
Philadelphia vs. N.Y. Jets |
| Thur. 8/31 10:00 p.m. ET |
Seattle vs. Oakland |
*Joined in Progress, 9 p.m. ET Start
To put the number into context, the NHL’s 15 regular-season games on the NBC broadcast network this season (i.e., games that actually count, as opposed to preseason) averaged 1.2 million viewers.
NFL Network’s preseason viewership is within shouting distance of ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball,” which averaged 1.6 million viewers in 2016.
Eleven of last season’s 17 preseason games on NFL Network eclipsed the 1 million viewer mark. In 2015, 10 of NFL Network’s 13 preseason games blew past the 1 million viewer mark.
SportsBusiness Journal received an early look at this year’s preseason schedule on NFL Network, which will consist of 16 games. NFL Network will carry seven games in the first week of preseason, six in the second week, one in the third week and two in the fourth week.
The schedule includes three Seattle Seahawks games, the most of any team. Eight teams will appear twice, including the popular Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos. With no Olympic competition, it’s a good bet that this year’s preseason will see a healthy viewer increase on NFL Network.
