YouTube’s first ever live NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers brought in 17.3 million viewers from more than 230 countries and territories around the world. YouTube is calling it “a huge success.”
The number represents average minute audience (AMA) that tuned in to YouTube to watch the game. The 17.3 million included 16.2M AMA in the U.S., according to data from Nielsen, and 1.1M AMA outside of the U.S,, according to YouTube.
The NFL officially made the announcement about YouTube’s first exclusive free streaming game in May.
“Streaming the Friday night game to fans for free around the world will mark YouTube’s first time as a live NFL broadcaster—and we’ll do it in a way that only YouTube can, with an interactive viewing experience and creators right at the center of the experience,” YouTube’s chief business officer, Mary Ellen Coe said in the announcement in May.
That interactive viewing experience included content during the game from YouTube creators including Mr. Beast, Haley Kalil, Michelle Khare, and Marques Brown and commentary from Deestroying from the sidelines. Pre-game and post-game content brought YouTubers Kay Adams and Peter Overzet together with NFL Legends Cam Newton, Derek Carr, Brandon Marshall, and Tyrann Mathieu. YouTube also hosted a halftime performance from Karol G.