A staggering 96 of the top 100 most-watched TV shows of 2025 were sporting events, data has revealed.
This year saw Donald Trump return to the Oval Office and a first American-born Pope elected in Vatican City.
But nothing consumed American TV viewers like sports and, in particular, football. This year, of the top 100 telecasts, all but four were sporting events.
That is up from 87 last year and ties the record set in 2023. According to the Sports Business Journal, football games – across college and the NFL – will make up 92 of the 96.
The vast majority of them have been NFL games, with the climax of the 2024 season and the 2025 regular season amassing around 84 of the top 100 telecasts.
In February, the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs drew an estimated audience of 127.7million viewers across the US.
Philadelphia Eagles’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs was the most watched Super Bowl ever
The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays in a titanic World Series battle
Back in May, Junior Alvarado rode Sovereignty to victory in the 151st Kentucky Derby
Taylor Swift and President Trump were among those in the stands in New Orleans but in households across the US, Super Bowl LIX became the most-watched season-finale in history.
Meanwhile, the expanded CFP – which now includes 12 teams – means college football is expected to have a record eight spots in the top 100.
Games six and seven of the World Series have also made the cut after a pulsating battle between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays.
The Kentucky Derby returned to the top 100, according to Sports Business Journal, as did the the men’s championship game of March Madness.
The only non-sporting events to squeeze into the top 100 were Trump’s inauguration, his address to a joint session of Congress, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Oscars.
Not included in the rankings, however, are Netflix boxing matches such as Anthony Joshua’s recent victory over Jake Paul.
