UFL TV ratings in 2025 are down compared to the 2024 regular season. After the first six weeks of the 2025 season, the UFL TV ratings average is 612,000 viewers per game across FOX, ABC, ESPN, and FS1. The numbers reflect a 25% decrease from the 2024 regular season average of 816,000 viewers per game.
A significant reason for the overall dip in viewership is that no UFL game in 2025 has reached 1 million viewers, unlike 2024, where six games topped that mark.
This past weekend's UFL games on FOX, ABC, and ESPN produced mixed ratings results. Week 6 averaged 645,000 viewers per game, with individual game viewership as follows: St. Louis vs. Arlington (FOX) at 630,000, Houston vs. Memphis (ABC) at 874,000, DC vs. Michigan (ESPN) at 454,000, and Birmingham vs. San Antonio (FOX) at 620,000.
On the positive end, the league's weekly Friday night game on FOX stabilized back to its 2025 floor averaging 630,000 viewers after taking a huge hit the week prior going head-to-head with the NFL Draft. (467K).
The 467,000 average on 4/25 was the lowest-rated Spring Pro Football game on FOX since a USFL 2023 game between the Michigan Panthers and New Jersey Generals averaged 563,000 viewers.
The Battlehawks-Renegades 630k average this past Friday night is a small victory, especially considering how locally, St. Louis sports fans' attention was diverted by a Blues playoff game and a Cardinals matchup against the Mets going on simultaneously.
Furthering the glass half full outlook for UFL TV Ratings in Week 6 was this past Saturday's noon eastern showing on ABC of the Memphis Showboats and Houston Roughnecks. At an 874k average, it was the third most watched UFL game of the 2025 regular season, slightly behind ABC's Week 4 UFL game of St. Louis versus Arlington (901k).
The most-watched game of the 2025 UFL season was also on ABC (Week 3, DC Defenders vs. St. Louis Battlehawks) with 967,000 average viewers and a peak audience of 1.4 million.
What's been clear since the return of prominent spring pro football, starting with 2019's AAF on CBS, to today is that the networks have always mattered more than the matchup. A reality that was never more abundantly evident than ABC's early showing of Memphis and Houston versus the thrilling Bryce Perkins show on ESPN this past Sunday.
That's why context is king when it comes to TV viewership. The old adage is that numbers never lie, but proper context can present different truths when making comparisons.
Comparing UFL 2025 TV Ratings Against Other Sports Leagues
When it comes to monitoring and comparing sports TV ratings, so much has changed in just the last five years alone. From content streaming to out-of-home viewership, it's become increasingly challenging to get a clear picture of audience averages.
From the perspective of modern-day spring pro football, measuring how its audience stacks up against other sports leagues requires deep contextual analysis.
Back in 2020, it was a lot easier. One of my weekly social media posts entailed listing the viewership comparisons of the XFL versus other leagues airing on the same day on over-the-air broadcast television.
The XFL was performing favorably compared to all prominent sports leagues at the time. That picture is very different today.
On a grander scale, The UFL's viewership level predictably trails far behind the averages of the NFL (17.9 million), NBA (2-3 million), MLB (1.6 million), NASCAR (2-3 million), and PGA (2-3 million), specifically on over the air broadcast networks.
In 2025, the UFL’s 612,000 average viewership positions it as a niche player in the sports viewing landscape, competitive with MLS (300,000-600,000), WNBA (650,000), and EPL (546,000), and occasionally rivaling or topping lower-tier NHL or MLB broadcasts on cable.
For example, the UFL’s cable TV viewership for regular-season games (through Week 6) averages 445,800 viewers per game, compared to the NHL’s estimated 350,000–370,000 viewers per game for the 2024/2025 regular season. The UFL outperforms the NHL by 20–27% on cable, driven by fewer but more consistently viewed games and favorable slots, despite the NHL’s larger schedule and established audience.
On the over-the-air broadcast network side of things, the UFL is compared favorably to Major League Soccer on FOX, a network on which both sports entities air their games.
The UFL’s current 2025 FOX average (639,000) is ~28% higher than MLS’s estimated FOX average (500,000).
The bottom line is that even with the UFL's ratings trending downward to this point, based on how the league stacks up in the sports viewing world, the juice may still be worth the squeeze, despite league owners FOX, RedBird Capital, and Disney having to spend tens of millions of dollars to keep the UFL afloat.
Here is a deep overhead view of how the UFL ranks against all sports leagues.
Sports Leagues’ 2025 TV Ratings Averages
Below is a list of sports leagues with their estimated or reported average viewership per game in 2025 (or 2024/2025 season), focusing on regular-season games on cable (e.g., ESPN, TNT, FS1) and broadcast networks (e.g., ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC).
Leagues are ordered by overall average viewership, with cable and broadcast splits noted where available.
- NFL (2024):
- Overall Average: 17.9 million viewers per game (Nielsen, across CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN).
- Broadcast: ~20–25 million (CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC).
- Cable: ~9 million (ESPN Monday Night Football), ~5–7 million (Amazon Prime Thursday Night Football).
- Notes: Early 2025 playoff data (e.g., 20–40 million for Wild Card games) suggests stability or slight growth. The NFL dominates all sports viewership.
- NBA (2024/2025):
- Overall Average: 1.53 million viewers per game (Nielsen, across ABC, ESPN, TNT).
- Broadcast (ABC): 2.683 million.
- Cable (ESPN, TNT): 1.2–1.5 million.
- Notes: Down 2% from 1.56 million in 2023/2024, with Christmas Day (5.335 million) and playoff surges (4.45 million) boosting the average.
- MLB (2024):
- Overall Average: ~1.6 million viewers per game (FOX, ESPN, TBS).
- Broadcast (FOX): 1.5–2 million.
- Cable (ESPN, TBS): 1–1.5 million.
- Notes: 2024 World Series averaged 14.3 million. No 2025 regular-season data yet, but early-season trends typically align with 2024’s 1–2 million range.
- NHL (2024/2025):
- Overall Average: ~504,000 viewers per game (2023/2024 across ABC, ESPN, TNT; 2024/2025 estimated at ~450,000–500,000 due to 13% decline).
- Broadcast (ABC): ~1–1.4 million (2023/2024).
- Cable (ESPN, TNT, TBS, truTV): 350,000–370,000 (2024/2025 estimate).
- Notes: 2024/2025 cable viewership dropped from 410,000 (2023/2024), with lows like 138,000 and highs like 1.6 million (Stadium Series).
- PGA Tour (2024):
- Overall Average: ~2–3 million viewers per game (non-major events on CBS, NBC, ESPN).
- Broadcast (CBS, NBC): 2–3 million.
- Cable (ESPN): 1–2 million.
- Notes: Majors like the 2025 Masters likely drew 9–13 million. Non-major averages are stable, with no 2025-specific data.
- NASCAR (2024):
- Overall Average: ~3 million viewers per race (Cup Series, across FOX, NBC, FS1).
- Broadcast (FOX, NBC): 3–4 million.
- Cable (FS1): 1–2 million.
- Notes: Smaller races (e.g., Dover) drew 1–1.07 million. Xfinity Series (1.5 million) and Truck Series (850,000) are lower. No 2025 data yet.
- UFL (2025):
- Overall Average: 612,000 viewers per game (through Week 6, across FOX, ABC, ESPN, FS1).
- Broadcast (FOX, ABC): 707,632 (FOX: 639,000; ABC: 802,000).
- Cable (ESPN, FS1): 445,800.
- Notes: Down 25% from 2024’s 816,000 (945,000 broadcast, 630,000 cable). No game topped 1 million in 2025, unlike six in 2024.
- MLS (2025):
- Overall Average: ~500,000 viewers per game (estimated, primarily FOX; 2024 range: 300,000–600,000).
- Broadcast (FOX): ~500,000.
- Cable: Limited (TSN, others; no major U.S. cable presence).
- Notes: 2024 MLS Cup drew 468,000. Apple TV shift limits linear TV, but 2025 estimates a slight uptick.
- WNBA (2024):
- Overall Average: 650,000 viewers per game (across ESPN networks, CBS, ION).
- Broadcast (ABC, CBS): ~700,000–1 million.
- Cable (ESPN, ION): ~400,000–600,000.
- Notes: Record high in 2024 due to Caitlin Clark. 2025 projections suggest growth, possibly 700,000+, but no data yet.
- English Premier League (EPL, 2024/2025):
- Overall Average: 546,000 viewers per game (2023/2024 on NBC, USA Network; 2024/2025 estimated similar).
- Broadcast (NBC): ~600,000–1 million.
- Cable (USA Network): ~400,000–500,000.
- Notes: Up 4% in 2023/2024. 2024/2025 trends suggest stability, with no major viewership shifts reported.
Ranking Analysis
Based on overall average viewership per game in 2025 (or closest available data):
- NFL: 17.9 million
- NASCAR: ~3 million
- PGA Tour: ~2–3 million
- MLB: ~1.6 million
- NBA: 1.53 million
- WNBA: 650,000 (2024, likely higher in 2025)
- UFL: 612,000
- EPL: 546,000
- MLS: ~500,000
- NHL: ~450,000–500,000
The UFL ranks 7th among these sports leagues in 2025 based on its overall average of 612,000 viewers per game. Key observations:
- Broadcast Strength: The UFL’s broadcast average (707,632) outperforms MLS (~500,000), EPL (NBC: ~600,000–1 million), and NHL (ABC: ~1–1.4 million in 2023/2024, likely lower in 2025), and is close to WNBA’s broadcast range (700,000–1 million). It trails NBA (2.683 million on ABC), MLB (1.5–2 million), PGA (2–3 million), NASCAR (3–4 million), and NFL (20–25 million).
- Cable Performance: The UFL’s cable average (445,800) exceeds the NHL’s estimated 350,000–370,000, MLS’s limited cable presence, and EPL’s ~400,000–500,000, and is competitive with WNBA’s ~400,000–600,000. It lags behind NBA (1.2–1.5 million), MLB (1–1.5 million), PGA (1–2 million), and NASCAR (1–2 million).
- Context: The UFL’s 25% drop from 2024 (816,000) places it closer to 2023 XFL/USFL levels (601,000–622,000), but its broadcast-heavy schedule (78% of games on FOX/ABC) keeps it competitive with niche leagues. The NHL’s 13% decline and MLS’s streaming shift weaken their linear TV standings, while the WNBA’s 2024 surge (potentially continuing in 2025) edges it above the UFL.
Limitations
- Incomplete 2025 Data: MLS, WNBA, MLB, NASCAR, PGA, and EPL estimates rely on 2024 data with 2025 trends. Post-season Nielsen reports could adjust rankings.
- Game Volume: The UFL’s 24 games (through Week 6) are fewer than the NHL’s or NBA’s hundreds, making its average less stable.
- Playoff Exclusion: Rankings use regular-season data. Playoff viewership (e.g., UFL’s 2024 Championship at 1.596 million, NHL’s 4 million for 2024 Finals) could shift perceptions.
In conclusion, the UFL's performance grade is based on where you set the goalposts. The league is doing just fine if viewed in a niche category. But if the idea is that it should be doing better, the ceiling looks limited.
Update: To limit the overwhelming length of this article, I omitted one crucial element of this lengthy breakdown. The cost of content rights of established leagues versus the expenditures of the UFL by FOX and its leadership partners.
The United Football League's estimated yearly operational cost is 125-150 million. That's a conservative estimate, but it's likely in the ballpark even with the measured financial approach of cutting costs across the board.
The big TV networks and streaming partners pay a significant amount for content from sports leagues. Here is a breakdown of where things stand in that respect.
NHL: ~$625M/year ($400M Disney, $225M Warner Bros. Discovery)
Notes: These seven-year deals replaced a $2B, 10-year agreement with NBC that expired in 2021. The new contracts doubled the NHL’s previous media revenue, with a strong streaming focus.
The NHL’s national media rights for the 2021–22 to 2027–28 seasons are split between Disney (ESPN/ABC/Hulu) and Warner Bros. Discovery (TNT/TBS/Max). Disney pays ~$400M annually for 75 exclusive regular-season games and 1,000 out-of-market games on ESPN+. WBD pays ~$225M annually for 72 regular-season games for an annual value of approximately $625 M.
WNBA: New Deal Estimated $200M (Various networks)
The WNBA’s previous deal (through 2025) was worth ~$60M annually, with partners including Amazon, CBS, ESPN, and Scripps Sports. The new 11-year agreement, starting in 2025–26, negotiated alongside the NBA’s rights, is reported at $200M annually, a significant jump.
The new deal involves Disney (ESPN/ABC), NBC/Peacock, and Amazon Prime Video, covering regular-season games, playoffs, and Finals. The increase reflects the WNBA’s growing viewership and advertiser interest (e.g., 26% higher ad engagement in 2024).
MLS on Fox: ~$15–25M/year
MLS’s primary deal is a 10-year, $2.5B agreement with Apple (2023–2032), equating to $250M annually, covering all matches on Apple TV+. Fox Sports has a secondary linear TV deal, airing a limited number of games, valued at ~$30M/year through 2026.
EPL on NBC (USA): ~$425M/year
NBC Sports holds a six-year, $2.7B contract with the English Premier League (2022–2028), averaging ~$450M/year. This deal covers all EPL matches in the U.S., with many games on Peacock and others on NBC/USA Network. The figure reflects a significant increase from the previous $80M/year deal, driven by the EPL’s popularity and Comcast’s ownership ties to Sky (the EPL’s UK partner).
NBA: ~$7B/year (Prime/NBC/Disney)
The NBA finalized an 11-year, $76B media rights deal starting 2025–26, averaging $6.9B/year. Partners include Disney (ESPN/ABC, ~$2.6B/year), NBC/Peacock ($2.5B/year), and Amazon Prime Video (~$1.8B/year). This deal replaces a nine-year, $24B agreement ($2.66B/year) with ESPN and TNT. Warner Bros. Discovery’s bid to retain rights was rejected, leading to legal disputes. The new deal includes WNBA rights and emphasizes streaming (e.g., ESPN+ and Peacock).
NFL: ~$11B+/year (Prime/NBC/Disney/Fox/CBS/NFL Network/YouTube)
The NFL’s TV contracts for 2023–2033 generate ~$11–12.4B annually across Fox, CBS, NBC, ESPN/ABC (Disney), Amazon Prime Video, NFL Network, and YouTube (Sunday Ticket).
Key packages include Thursday Night Football (Amazon, $1.3B/year), Sunday Ticket (YouTube, ~$2B/year), and linear TV deals (Fox/CBS/NBC/ESPN, ~$8–9B combined). The NFL’s dominance in ad revenue ($4.5B in 2024) supports these figures.
MLB: ~$729M Fox and $550M ESPN
Fox: ~$500M/year (2014–2021, extended to 2028), covering regular-season games, playoffs, and the World Series and not including regional or other revenue.
ESPN: ~$550M/year (2014–2021, extended), for Sunday Night Baseball and select games.
TBS (Turner): ~$350M/year for regular-season and postseason games.
Apple: $85M/year (2022–2029) for Friday night games.
Total: $1.5–2B/year, including national and streaming deals, but excluding regional sports network (RSN) deals ($2.1B/year pre-COVID).
Big 12: ~$380M/year (ESPN/Fox)
The Big 12’s media deal with ESPN and Fox, extended in 2022 through 2030–31, is valued at ~$380M/year and covers football, basketball, and other sports.
Big Ten: ~$1.1B+/year (Fox/CBS/NBC)
The Big Ten’s seven-year deal (2023–2030) with Fox, CBS, and NBC is worth ~$1–1.2B annually. Fox holds the largest share (football’s “Big Noon” slot), followed by CBS and NBC/Peacock.
The deal includes football (e.g., Rose Bowl on ESPN, outside this package) and basketball, streaming on Peacock and CBS Sports Network. The Big Ten’s expansion (e.g., USC, UCLA) boosted its value.
Final Summary: These numbers give you a clearer view of the sports television landscape and the value attached to live sports content. FOX and Disney are squeezing whatever juice they can from the UFL as a property that eliminates typical revenue sharing with outside partners. For the UFL to survive, it must prove worthy of a continual squeeze because the valuable air time can be used for other lower-cost programming.