NFL and Golden Globe Awards Set for Ratings Battle

So Hollywood wants to go up against the National Football League in the ratings department on Sunday night?

On Sunday night there will be more than just a battle for the NFC's number one seed when the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings square off on Sunday Night Football. At the same time as the Sunday night game on NBC, over on CBS the Golden Globe Awards, one of Hollywood's "biggest" award shows leading up to the Oscars is taking place at the same time.

It could be a battle royale over the ratings, right?

Eh ... not so fast.

Since the Globes drew over 20 million viewers in 2017, ratings for the show have precipitously dropped every year since, including drawing a record low 6.3 million viewers two years ago. The Globes bounced back (slightly) last year, drawing 9.4 million viewers, but it was still low.

Many blamed the COVID pandemic, streaming, the 2023 actors and writers strikes, and, of course politics as a reason behind the drop in viewership for not only the Globes, but all award shows. Even the Oscars have seen its ratings struggle every year over the past decade. Last year, the Oscars netted only 19 million viewers.

And now the Globes will go up against the Godzilla of TV and streaming ratings: the NFL.

Is it too late for Hollywood to call Ricky Gervais out of the bullpen?

According to Sportico, 73 of the top 100 most-watched broadcasts in 2024 were NFL football games. Case in point a Monday Night Football game in Week 11 of the 2023 season between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs drew 29 million viewers across Disney's three platforms: ABC, ESPN and ESPN2. Even NBC's streaming Peacock exclusive playoff game last year of the Chiefs and Miami Dolphins drew in 27 million.

Sunday's game will be broadcast by NBC, which has been the leader of primetime NFL football games since taking up the package nearly 20 years ago in 2006. According to data from NBC/Universal itself, Sunday Night Football was broadcast in an average of 21 million homes.

What will it be like when two of the hottest teams in the NFL, the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings, with everything on the table bring in as far as viewership? It should be insane.

If history is any indication, Sunday night's game could draw over 30 million people. Last year the NFL wild-card round drew in 31.2 million, and the divisional round over 40 million. Sunday's game is essentially a playoff game.

Could the Globes Get an NFL on CBS Bump?

Keep in mind the Globes are on CBS and they will have NFL football preceding it. The NFL on CBS has also posted gaudy numbers in the ratings department, but considering it's 4:25 pm. slate consists of the lowly Miami Dolphins and the moribund New York Jets, and a Chiefs team resting all its starters against the Denver Broncos, the Globes may not get the bump it hopes for.

This should be fun!