NBC Bragged About Streaming Numbers for Peacock-Only Playoff Game, and Fans Didn’t Want to Hear It

The Peacock-exclusive playoff game drew big ratings, but fans weren’t pleased.

NBC announced its ratings for the Peacock-exclusive NFL Playoff game between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday night.

The network boasted some massive numbers for the game, which aired exclusively on NBC’s streaming service. According to NBC, the wild-card round game was the most streamed event of any kind ever in the United States, with more than 23 million viewers tuning in.

While the network was pleased with the viewership milestones, fans weren’t quite so ecstatic. Those who didn’t have a subscription to the platform but wanted to watch game didn’t have much choice but to pay for one. 

Fans on social media weren’t fans of NBC boasting its record-setting ratings after the game, and they voiced their complaints on X.

How many more people would have seen it had you broadcast it on television? Great work everyone.

— Ryan Moroney #RESIST (@ob1moroney) January 15, 2024

NBC celebrates the Peacock game, calling it the "most streamed event ever" with 23 million viewers and thanking Roger Goodell and the NFL.

Mike Tirico calls it "A milestone moment in media and sports history."

NBC also thanks you for your subscription fee. pic.twitter.com/WGJQMRzVP2

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 15, 2024

I'd like to know how many new subscribers canceled after the game https://t.co/GkukOjK557

— John Karalis 🇬🇷🇺🇦 (@John_Karalis) January 15, 2024

THIS IS DISGUSTING OMG https://t.co/B04l3wDeoC

— y - Stanley Cup Champs (@angelaliz_) January 15, 2024

This is so disingenuous. They put one of the biggest games of the year on a streaming service and forced everyone who wanted to watch to subscribe. Consumers had no choice. This is not a win. https://t.co/GZH9QLAgsW

— Jenna Tonelli (@jennatonelli) January 15, 2024

This was one of the greediest moves ever by the NFL.

They made millions of fans pay to watch a playoff game on tv & they STILL flooded the broadcast with commercials to make even more money…

If we have to pay for a playoff game, at very least, it should be commercial free https://t.co/kgMGtS681r

— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) January 15, 2024

We all failed. And it's all over now. https://t.co/u0XqaREF6k

— A dude. (@4thAndBearded) January 15, 2024

Did NBC really just run a highlight package specifically to congratulate themselves for making everyone watch Peacock?

— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@ASchatzNFL) January 15, 2024

NBC taking a victory lap over the Peacock streaming data when everyone hated them for it is peak network executive idiocy.

— Jay Rigdon (@jayrigdon5) January 15, 2024

They’re just celebrating in your face that they made you pay that Peacock subscription fee to watch the Dolphins-Chiefs playoff game and you complied.pic.twitter.com/0ElhUJsJrf

— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) January 15, 2024