The NFL is off to a roaring start on RTL this season,captivating audiences and boosting ratings across key demographics. After five weeks of thrilling regular-season action, the league has hit a new viewership high on the German network.In the later 10:25 p.m. kickoff slot, RTL saw market shares climb to 10.5 percent among 14-49 year olds (a 0.7 percentage point increase) and 8.7 percent for the 14-59 demographic (up 1.5 percentage points). Even the earlier 7:00 p.m. primetime slot saw significant gains, with market shares reaching 8.0 percent (14-49 year olds, +0.7 pp) and 5.7 percent (14-59 year olds, +0.6 pp) compared to last year.
This surge in viewership highlights the enduring appeal of the NFL, particularly among younger fans. The broadcasts continue to be a massive success with young men aged 14-29, pulling in extraordinary market shares of up to 29.1 percent. It’s clear that the gridiron action is resonating deeply with this crucial demographic.
The NFL’s reach extends beyond conventional television. In calendar week 39 alone, the league’s programming, when considering Total Video (TV + Video on Demand), connected with 10.62 million viewers across all platforms. This impressive figure places the NFL in an excellent second place among all RTL program brands,trailing only the UEFA Europa League,which garnered 10.89 million viewers.
RTL Deutschland has been actively expanding its American football content. Recent additions include new TV magazines and expanded premium rights. The new live talk show, “NFL LIVE – Good Evening Football,” has been a hit with NITRO’s core audience of 30-49 year old men, achieving market shares of up to 3.8 percent on Sunday evenings. The “TOGGO Touchdown” magazine, tailored for a younger audience and now featuring daily editions, is also proving to be a fan favorite. Looking ahead,RTL Deutschland is doubling down on its live NFL offerings by acquiring all NFL International Games from European markets for the 2025 regular season.
NFL LIVE: Tune in October 12th from 2:30 p.m. on RTL and RTL+
Week six of the NFL regular season promises another marathon of football this Sunday, October 12th. The action kicks off with the second London Game, broadcast live on RTL starting at 2:30 p.m. The Denver broncos will face off against the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. For dedicated fans, this marks the third consecutive Sunday with over 12 hours of live football! Following the London showdown, the RTL NFL crew in London will hand off to presenter florian Ambrosius and his team in Cologne for the Seattle Seahawks’ clash in Jacksonville (kickoff at 7:00 p.m.). Before the highly anticipated NFC showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers airs on free TV at 10:25 p.m., fans can catch the New orleans Saints aiming for another home victory at Caesars Superdome against the New England Patriots exclusively on RTL+.
For a thorough look at all broadcast dates and more details on RTL’s NFL coverage, click here.
Source: AGF/GfK / DAP AGF SCOPE / RTL Data / preliminary weighted / As of: October 9, 2025
