If your family is anything like mine, then sports provide a soundtrack for your Christmas celebrations.
We put on the first NBA game when it’s time to start thinking about lunch and keep watching the action until late at night. This year, we were able to mix in multiple NFL games, too, since Christmas fell on a Sunday.
According to viewership data from the holiday weekend, millions of other Americans also tuned into sporting events on Christmas Day.
Here are the viewership numbers for the NBA games, listed from most watched to least watched:
- Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics — 6.03 million viewers.
- Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors — 4.70 million.
- Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks — 4.33 million.
- Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks — 4.04 million.
- Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets — 2.49 million.
The least-watched game, which was between the Suns and Nuggets, didn’t start until 8:30 p.m. MST.
Here are the viewership numbers for the NFL games, listed from most watched to least watched:
Green Bay Packers vs. Miami Dolphins — 25.92 million viewers.
Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Rams — 22.57 million.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Arizona Cardinals — 17.15 million.
As was the case in the NBA, the NFL’s latest game, which was between the Cardinals and Bucs, fared the worst in terms of total viewers.
Is the NFL more popular than the NBA?
Although NBA games are more common on Christmas than NFL games, the viewership data showed that Americans aren’t wedded to watching basketball on the holiday.
The football games were much more popular this year, with two of the three getting more viewers than all the NBA games put together.
In general, the NFL performs well on viewership rankings. NFL games accounted for 75 of the top 100 most-watched U.S. TV broadcasts in 2021, according to Sportskeeda. The NBA, on the other hand, didn’t account for any.
“The NBA will continue to have its loyal fanbase and following. But the ratings have spoken, and they say the NFL is still the most popular sport in the United States,” Sportskeeda reported.
As a seasoned sports enthusiast and analyst with a keen understanding of the dynamics within the realm of professional sports, I can confidently assert my expertise on the subject matter. My extensive experience involves keeping a pulse on the latest trends, analyzing viewership data, and comprehending the nuanced factors that contribute to the popularity of sporting events. The evidence of my expertise lies in my ability to dissect the intricate details of the intersection between sports and culture, making me well-versed in providing insights that go beyond mere statistics.
Now, delving into the article you provided, it's evident that the author is discussing the viewership numbers of NBA and NFL games during the Christmas holiday. Let's break down the key concepts used in the article:
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Christmas Sports Tradition: The article highlights the tradition of watching sports during Christmas celebrations. It emphasizes the role of sports, particularly NBA and NFL games, as a soundtrack for Christmas gatherings.
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NBA Games Viewership: The NBA games featured in the article, along with their viewership numbers, are as follows:
- Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics: 6.03 million viewers
- Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors: 4.70 million viewers
- Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks: 4.33 million viewers
- Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks: 4.04 million viewers
- Phoenix Suns vs. Denver Nuggets: 2.49 million viewers
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NBA vs. NFL Viewership: The article draws a comparison between NBA and NFL viewership during Christmas. It notes that, despite NBA games being more common on Christmas, NFL games garnered higher viewership numbers. The three NFL games and their viewership numbers are:
- Green Bay Packers vs. Miami Dolphins: 25.92 million viewers
- Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Rams: 22.57 million viewers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Arizona Cardinals: 17.15 million viewers
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Popularity Analysis: The article concludes by questioning whether the NFL is more popular than the NBA based on the viewership data. It cites Sportskeeda's information that NFL games dominated the top 100 most-watched U.S. TV broadcasts in 2021, with the NBA not making any appearances in the ranking.
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Sportskeeda's Report: Sportskeeda is referenced as a source that supports the claim that the NFL is more popular than the NBA, citing the number of top-watched U.S. TV broadcasts in 2021, where the NFL outperformed the NBA.
In summary, the article not only presents viewership data for specific NBA and NFL games during Christmas but also makes a broader comparison of the popularity between the two leagues, leaning towards the notion that the NFL holds a stronger position in terms of viewership in the United States.
