Winter Storm Boosts NFL Conference Championship Viewership

## Overview of the NFL The National Football League (NFL) is the preeminent professional American football organization in the United States, renowned for its massive influence on sports, entertainment, and business. With 32 teams divided between the American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC), the NFL organizes a 17-game regular season culminating in a single-elimination playoff and the Super Bowl—the most-watched annual sporting event in the U.S.[2] ## History and Evolution Founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) in Canton, Ohio, the league initially comprised teams primarily from the Midwest and Northeast[1][3]. It was renamed the National Football League in 1922 and faced early instability, surviving competition from rival leagues such as the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and multiple iterations of the American Football League (AFL)[2]. By the 1950s, the NFL had established a monopoly on professional football in the U.S., with only the Canadian Football League (CFL) operating independently in Canada[2]. The most significant development in NFL history was the 1966 merger agreement with the AFL, which led to a common draft and the creation of the Super Bowl as a championship game between the two league champions[1][2]. The leagues fully merged in 1970, reorganizing into the AFC and NFC and cementing the NFL’s dominance in American professional sports[1][2]. ## Key Achievements and Innovations The NFL pioneered lucrative television contracts, transforming football into a national pastime and a major media event. The league’s adoption of revenue-sharing and salary caps fostered competitive balance, helping small-market teams remain viable[2]. The NFL has also been a leader in sports technology, implementing instant replay, advanced player tracking, and digital platforms for fan engagement. Notable achievements include the expansion to 32 teams, the internationalization of the game through game

CBS, originally founded in 1927 as the Columbia Broadcasting System, is a major American media company known primarily for its commercial broadcasting, television production, and publishing activities. It began as a radio network established by talent agent Arthur Judson but was soon acquired by William S. Paley, who transformed it into a dominant force in radio by leveraging advertising revenue through large audiences[1][5]. CBS expanded into television early, launching experimental broadcasts in 1931 and pioneering the first color TV broadcast in 1940 from its Chrysler Building transmitter in New York City[1][2]. The network became a leader in television entertainment and news through the mid-20th century, with iconic programs and personalities such as Ed Sullivan, Lucille Ball, and Walter Cronkite contributing to its popularity[3]. CBS also innovated in network news with the Columbia News Service, led by Edward R. Murrow, which established its reputation for serious journalism in the 1930s and 1940s[2]. Throughout its history, CBS diversified into related sectors like recording (Columbia Records) and publishing but eventually refocused on broadcasting and entertainment. It underwent several corporate transformations, including a merger with Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1995, adoption of the CBS Corporation name, and acquisition by Viacom in 2000. After splitting from Viacom in 2005 and operating independently, CBS re-merged with Viacom in 2019 to form ViacomCBS, which was renamed Paramount Global in 2022. In 2025, CBS became the flagship network of the newly formed Paramount Skydance Corporation following an $8 billion merger with Skydance Media[3][4]. Today, CBS remains a key player in American media, known for its broad programming reach, influential news division, and historical significance in radio and television innovation. Its long-standing presence and adaptability in business and technology make it a cornerstone of the broadcasting industry. CBS’s leadership under President and CEO George Che

Fox Corporation, established in 2019 following the $71.3 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox by The Walt Disney Company, is a leading American multinational media company headquartered in New York City. It was formed as a spin-off to retain 21CF's television broadcasting, news, and sports assets not acquired by Disney[1][4]. Controlled by media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s family, with Lachlan Murdoch as chairman and CEO, Fox Corp’s portfolio includes flagship brands such as Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox News Media, Fox Sports, Fox Entertainment, Fox Television Stations, and the streaming service Tubi[1][4][6]. Fox Broadcasting Company, launched in 1986 to compete with the traditional Big Three networks (ABC, CBS, NBC), rapidly became the most successful fourth network in the U.S., dominating key demographics and total viewership during several periods[2]. As a broadcast network, Fox focuses on entertainment programming but relies on its separate 24-hour channels—Fox News and Fox Business—for news content[2]. Since its inception, Fox Corp has expanded its digital and streaming presence through acquisitions like Tubi in 2020 and TMZ in 2021, enhancing its footprint in digital advertising and original content production[3][4]. Fox Entertainment, restructured in 2019, produces popular scripted and unscripted shows such as *The Simpsons*, *The Masked Singer*, *Hell’s Kitchen*, and culinary content through Studio Ramsay Global, founded in partnership with Gordon Ramsay[5]. Fox Corporation remains a dominant force in news, sports, and entertainment, consistently investing in content innovation, live sports programming, and digital platforms to adapt to evolving media consumption[4][6]. In November 2023, Rupert Murdoch retired as chairman, marking a new leadership era under Lachlan Murdoch[1]. Today, Fox Corp continues to thrive as a major media player, balancing legacy broadcast strengths with growing digital initiatives, making it a critical