The USFL averaged 789,500 viewers across four games this weekend (three on broadcast), while the XFL averaged 588,250 across four games (three on cable, including one on ESPN2).
The XFL's first four games fell 54 to 65 percent from comparable 2020 XFL windows.
The transparency and efficiency of the XFL replay system impressed viewers.
With the XFL's launch coming, ESPN has announced a new docuseries.
The XFL's ratings have continued to drop significantly from week to week.
New York safety A.J. Hendy bounced off St. Louis receiver L'Damian Washington and collided with a cameraman on the sidelines.
The first week of the new XFL revealed that, while the upstart league is working out the kinks,...
Fox tweeted about the XFL a lot on opening weekend, while ESPN tweeted about it a bit (but gave it a big push thanks to their reach). CBS and NBC ignored it from their main accounts, but plenty of digital companies tweeted about it quite a bit.
XFL ratings so far look decent, but will the league be able to keep people tuning in?
The XFL still has some work to do, but the groundwork laid during opening weekend's broadcasts proves the potential is there.
"It had to do with access and it had to do with audio and sound — being able to listen in to conversations and play calling. There are a lot of elements that could potentially be groundbreaking. For a football fan or a football viewer, it’s going to be interesting."