When football programming is stripped away, NBC, CBS, and Fox’s viewership is 45% lower among men ages 18 to 49, a coveted demographic for advertisers.This is why the relationship between the NFL and the television industry is so vital. This is why the networks spend billions of dollars on games. This is also why right now there is an intense competition for the league’s Thursday Night Football package.
Source: Here’s what network TV ratings would look like without the NFL – Nov. 24, 2015