NBC reported that the Thursday night NFL season opener between the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs set a new record for the most-watched regular-season opener. The game, which aired on NBC and Peacock, drew an average of 28.9 million viewers, surpassing the previous year’s viewership by 5%. The game peaked at 33 million viewers during the second quarter, despite a 20-minute weather delay due to thunderstorms.

This game not only demonstrated the NFL’s continued dominance in television viewership but also marked the largest audience share NBC has seen for a regular-season game since 2006, with a 12.6 national rating and 37 share. Kansas City, the host city, led the local markets with an impressive 43.4 local rating and an 80% share. Baltimore followed with a 24.5 rating and 60% share.

Additionally, viewership on NBC’s digital platforms, including Peacock, reached 4.6 million, a 65% increase from last year, highlighting the growing significance of streaming in sports broadcasting