Peacock downloads jump nearly 200% ahead of first NFL game
Peacock downloads jump nearly 200% ahead of first NFL game
Netflix also saw a marked increase in traffic for its NFL game, a sign that the league’s popularity hasn’t slipped heading into the season.
The NFL never fails to draw an audience, and it appears the 2026-27 season will be no exception. Both Netflix and Peacock carried NFL games in the days leading up to the league’s opening Sunday, and new data from the market intelligence firm Sensor Tower shines more light on how many viewers flocked to these streamers to watch the football season kick off. Spoiler alert — it was a lot.
Key Details:
- Quick add: Downloads for Peacock jumped by 178% on Sept. 9.
- Still augmenting: Viewers per hour on Peacock jumped 28% over its opening game last year.
- Lifts all boats: Netflix’s web traffic jumped 85% during the game as compared to the previous seven days.
Per the data from Sensor Tower, downloads for Peacock were up 178% on Wednesday, Sept. 9, the day it hosted the NFL kickoff game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. That’s close to the 200% uptick in downloads for the streamer’s app for its opening NFL game of the 2025 season.
Viewers per hour during the game on Peacock increased 28% year over year as compared to last year’s opener, a record-setting performer for the streamer. Website-only viewers during the first hour of the game were up 58% compared to last year’s game.
Overall traffic for Peacock on the app and on the web increased 125% and 210% throughout the evening of the game versus the previous seven-day average during the same time frame, respectively. The defensive struggle that unfolded on the field may have lost the attention of some fans, however, as web viewers fell by 24% by 9 p.m. ET.
Netflix also saw a big jump in viewership during its stream of the Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers game on Thursday, Sept. 10. App viewers jumped 76% for Netflix, and web viewers increased 102% hour-over-hour for the start of the game. Nearly one-third of all devices watching Netflix in the United States tuned into the game, per Sensor Tower’s data.
Netflix saw an 85% uptick in average web users versus the previous seven-day average in the same timeframe. But Sensor Tower’s data shows that the game didn’t draw as much attention in Australia — the host country for 49ers vs. Rams — as it did in the United States. The streamer still saw increases in its app and web users in Australia during the game, but only by 18% and 22% hour-over-hour, respectively.
The data from Sensor Tower points to another monster year for the NFL from a ratings perspective. Opening week offered plenty of fireworks, and the numbers must be especially encouraging for Netflix and Peacock, both of which will host more NFL games before the season is over.
-
Netflix
Netflix is a leading subscription-based video streaming service that offers on-demand access to an extensive library of over 3,000 movies, 2,000+ TV shows, and a growing collection of acclaimed Netflix originals. Renowned for producing groundbreaking content, Netflix has become a cultural powerhouse with hit originals like “Stranger Things,” “Wednesday,” “Squid Game,” “The Crown,” “Tiger King,” “Bridgerton,” “The Witcher,” and “Black Mirror.”
-
Peacock
Peacock is a subscription video streaming service from NBCUniversal that includes original shows, blockbuster movies, and classic television series. Peacock is home to “Yellowstone,” “The Office,” and original hits like “Poker Face” and “Bel-Air.” You can also watch live sports and NBC programming, including the NFL, MLB, WWE, the Olympics, the Premier League, NASCAR, the French Open, college football and basketball, and the PGA Tour. Premium Plus subscribers can stream their local NBC feed in all 210 markets.
