YouTube's NFL Coverage Captivates Gen Z Audience, Says CEO Neal Mohan

• YouTube's NFL Sunday Ticket on digital platform is "aging down" audience, attracting GenZ football fans.
• CEO Mohan highlights YouTube's creator-led highlights, livestreams, and Shorts effectively engaging GenZ NFL viewership.

According to CEO Neal Mohan, YouTube's NFL coverage is proving popular among Generation Z viewers. Mohan, speaking about the platform's growing role in sports streaming, stated that broadcasting NFL games on YouTube helps the league connect with a younger, digital-first audience.

With highlights, livestreams, and exclusive content designed for mobile consumption, the NFL's YouTube presence has become an important part of its outreach strategy.

Mohan noted that Generation Z fans are engaging with the sport in new ways, such as through shorts, creator reactions, and interactive content, making YouTube an important link between the league and its next generation of fans.

In a recent conversation with Ankler Media founder Janice Min, Mohan stated that the NFL's presence on YouTube allows games to coexist with a diverse range of creator-driven sports content - precisely the type of content that younger audiences actively seek out on the platform.

"We actually aged down the NFL's audience on our platform," according to Mohan.

When YouTube acquired the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket, it not only made the service more accessible to those previously limited by DirecTV, but it also opened the door to a younger audience.

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While Sunday Ticket remains a premium subscription that caters primarily to die-hard fans, YouTube's broader platform reach allows the NFL to engage new viewers.

The YouTube CEO also stated that the upcoming Week One matchup between the Chiefs and Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which will be streamed for free globally on September 5, is a significant milestone. By removing paywalls and broadcasting to a global audience, the NFL hopes to attract a new, younger fan base.