The First Whistle: 30.1M Viewers

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SPORTS VIEWERSHIP

CFP title game draws 30.1M viewers, most-watched since 2015

Indiana’s 27–21 win over Miami averaged 30.1 million viewers, a 36% jump from last year and the second-most-watched College Football Playoff championship ever. The broadcast peaked at 33.2 million viewers in the first half, making it the most-watched college football game since the CFP’s inaugural title game in 2015.

A Volatile Playoff Run
The strong finish capped an uneven playoff from a viewership standpoint. First-round games fell 7% amid NFL competition, quarterfinals rebounded with a 14% increase, and semifinal games dipped again by double digits before the championship delivered a major rebound. Overall, the CFP averaged 16.3 million viewers per game, up 4% year over year.

Why It Matters
The title game ranked as the most-watched U.S. sports telecast outside the NFL since Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, bolstering college football’s claim as the country’s second-most-popular sport. The result also capped a banner week for ESPN, which followed the CFP with its most-watched broadcast ever earlier in the NFL playoffs.

📈 Read full Front Office Sports article here

SPORTS VIEWERSHIP

NFL playoff ratings surge as NBC, ESPN set network records

NBC’s Rams–Bears overtime thriller averaged 45.4 million viewers, an 8% increase from last year and the most-watched NFL divisional playoff game in the network’s history. The broadcast peaked at 52.6 million viewers during overtime, while the digital simulcast drew 5.3 million viewers across Peacock and NBC Sports platforms, marking NBC Sports Digital’s largest NFL audience outside the Super Bowl.

Divisional Round Momentum
The strong performance followed another record-setting weekend, with CBS delivering its biggest Saturday audience in 32 years for Bills–Broncos. Across all four divisional playoff games, the NFL averaged 39.2 million viewers, up 5% year over year and the second-highest figure ever for the round.

A Banner Day for Disney and ESPN
Earlier Sunday, Texans–Patriots averaged 38 million viewers on ESPN and ABC, making it the most-watched event in ESPN’s history and Disney’s largest telecast since 2014 outside of Super Bowls. The result underscores the NFL’s continued ratings dominance as the league builds momentum toward Super Bowl LX in February.

🏈 Read full Front Office Sports article here

SPORTS PERSONALITIES

Former ESPN host Elle Duncan lands new gig after leaving company

Elle Duncan left ESPN in December while at the height of her career, calling it a difficult but necessary move, and quickly landed a multiyear deal with Netflix. She’ll debut on the platform this week on Skyscraper Live, marking her first major role since departing the Worldwide Leader.

Flexibility Pays Off
Duncan’s Netflix agreement allows her to work with other networks, and she’s already taking advantage. She has been hired as a studio host for USA Network’s upcoming WNBA coverage, part of an 11-year media rights deal that begins with the 2026 season.

Why It Matters
Duncan’s rapid transition underscores the growing value of experienced women’s sports broadcasters as streaming and linear networks expand their investments. Her move also highlights how flexible, non-exclusive media deals are reshaping career paths for top on-air talent.

📺️ Read full Yahoo Sports article here

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Trinity Rodman signs 3-year deal with Washington Spirit, becomes highest-paid women's soccer player in the world

Trinity Rodman signed a three-year extension with the Washington Spirit worth $1 million per year, making her the highest-paid women’s soccer player in the world. The deal keeps the 22-year-old star in Washington through the 2028 season after months of uncertainty around her future.

How the NWSL Got Here
Rodman’s contract was initially vetoed by the league over concerns that its backloaded structure conflicted with the NWSL’s current media rights timeline and salary-cap rules. The dispute sparked grievances from the NWSL Players Association and accelerated broader league changes, including the creation of the High Impact Player rule to help teams retain elite talent.

Why It Matters
Rodman’s deal signals a major step forward in player compensation and star retention as the NWSL works to balance parity with global competition. It also locks in one of U.S. soccer’s most marketable players, a Spirit cornerstone since her Rookie of the Year campaign, and a key contributor to Team USA’s 2024 Olympic gold.

⚽️ Read full Yahoo Sports article here

Start 3/Bench 1

⬆️ Patrick Mahomes. Patrick Mahomes is expanding his Adidas partnership beyond football, becoming the brand’s first non-golf athlete to launch his own golf line. The move taps into Mahomes’ longtime passion for the sport and signals Adidas’ broader push to use crossover stars to grow golf’s cultural relevance. - David Rumsey

⬆️ NFL Flag Football. NFL Flag Football will play a major role during Super Bowl LX week, as the NFL and IFAF host six events spanning youth, high school, international, and Pro Bowl competition. The expanded presence reflects the sport’s growth to 20 million players worldwide and its approach toward a 2028 Olympic debut. – Youth Sports Business Report

⬆️ Microsoft. Microsoft has signed a multiyear partnership with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team that will integrate its cloud and AI technologies into the team’s racing operations. The deal is reportedly worth about $60 million per year and will be unveiled with Mercedes’ 2026 car launch. - Arman Khan

⬇️ Buffalo Bills. Buffalo fired Sean McDermott after owner Terry Pegula decided the franchise had hit a dead end, citing repeated playoff failures and a growing sense that the team could no longer get over the hump under the same leadership. - John Wawrow