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A Look at the Data the NFL Is Using to Decide What Game to Broadcast in Your Area

Criteria used for selecting NFL games to broadcast include:
1) Past TV ratings
2) Local affiliate insights
3) Geographic rules
4) A few tbsp of "instinct"

Flashback: Why People in Mississippi Have to Watch the Giants

Why this matters: CBS, NBC, Fox, and ESPN will pay the NFL $5.6B this year for the right to air these games which makes maximizing viewership important.

Change in the couch: AT&T will pay the NFL $1.5B for the exclusive rights to NFL Sunday Ticket this year.

Average audience by season (YoY growth):
1) 2015 - 18.7M
2) 2016 - 16.5M (↓ 12%)
3) 2017 - 15.0M (↓ 9%)
4) 2018 - 15.8M (↑ 6%)

Average audience in 2018 by network:
1) Sunday Afternoon (Fox) - 23.1M
2) Sunday Afternoon (CBS) - 22.2M
3) Sunday Night (NBC) - 19.2M
4) Monday Night (ESPN) - 11.4M

The total audience for NFL Kickoff Game (Packers vs. Bears) according to NBC Sports (% of total):
1) Television - 22M (97%)
2) Streaming - 627K (3%)
3) Total - 23M

Video: Watch CNBC's full interview with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

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