YouTube‘s first-ever exclusive NFL game streamed for free on the platform last Friday (Sept. 5). Based on data from Nielsen and YouTube, the matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers drew an average audience of over 17.3 million global viewers.
As to be expected, and in spite of being a globally available event, the majority of the viewers were based in the United States.
According to YouTube, the 17.3 million average-minute-audience (AMA) included 16.2 million AMA in the U.S. and 1.1 million AMA outside of the U.S.
Although the sheer majority of viewers were based in the U.S., YouTube explained that fans from more than 230 countries and territories around the globe tuned in to watch the live event.
All of which, YouTube says, resulted in a “game-changing moment” for the platform, and a “record-breaking” debut for the NFL on YouTube. The latter of which relates to the setting of a record for the most concurrent viewers of a live stream on YouTube.
For those that weren’t able to tune in to watch the game live, a replay is available to watch for free on the NFL YouTube channel.
The game also featured exclusive content from YouTube creators including MrBeast, Haley Kalil, Michelle Khare, and Marques Brownlee,
This is in addition to sideline commentary from Deestroying, as well as pre-game and post-game hosting from Kay Adams, Peter Overzet and NFL Legends Cam Newton, Derek Carr, Brandon Marshall, and Tyrann Mathieu.
The half-time show was performed by Karol G.
YouTube also made use of its ‘Watch With‘ feature to offer streams and commentary from a variety of other creators, including IShowSpeed, Tom Grossi, Robegrill, SKabeche, and CazéTV, among others.
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