大家知道在美國最受歡迎的運動是什麼嗎?
是在台灣最普及的籃球，還是台灣的國球棒球? 或者是台灣較為冷門的美式足球以及曲棍球呢?
看完這篇文章會讓你知道美國最真實的情況喔！
相信大家對”北美四大職業運動”這個詞不陌生，那是四大是哪四大呢?讓我們花一分鐘快速瀏覽一次。
國家美式足球聯盟 – NFL ( National Football League )，現有兩個聯會：美國美式足球聯會（American Football Conference， AFC）和國家美式足球聯會（National Football Conference，NFC），超級盃(Super Bowl )是冠軍賽雙方所爭奪獎盃的名字，亦是冠軍賽的名字。
美國職棒大聯盟 – MLB ( Major League Baseball )，是由國家聯盟 ( National League ) 與美國聯盟 (American League ) 所組成，冠軍賽稱為世界大賽（World Series）。
美國職業籃球聯賽 – NBA (National Basketball Association)，是由東區( Eastern Conference ) 與西區( Western Conference )所組成，冠軍賽通稱NBA Finals。
國家冰球聯盟 – NHL ( National Hockey League ) ，是由東區( Eastern Conference ) 與西區( Western Conference )所組成，每年東西兩區的冠軍會在聯盟總決賽中爭奪Stanley Cup ( 史坦利杯 )。
那在這四大職業運動中，最受美國人歡迎的是哪種運動呢? 是NBA、 MLB、 NFL、 還是NHL?
我們可以試著用電視的”收視人口”以及”冠軍賽廣告收費”來了解哪種運動是最受美國人歡迎的。
以下資料為2014年全美最多人收看的前50個體育節目。
(下表可能要請手機平板用戶將手機橫看才能看到完整列表，非常抱歉)
50 Most-Watched Sporting Events of 2014
請繼續往下閱讀
#
Sport
Event
Net
Rtg.
Vwrs.
1
NFL
Seahawks/Broncos
Super Bowl 48
FOX
46.7
112.19M
2
NFL
Seahawks/49ers
NFC Championship
FOX
28.5
55.91M
3
NFL
Patriots/Broncos
AFC Championship
CBS
28.1
51.30M
4
NFL
49ers/Packers
NFC Wild Card
FOX
25.8
47.10M
5
NFL
Chargers/Broncos
AFC Divisional
CBS
23.1
41.21M
6
NFL
Saints/Eagles
NFC Wild Card
NBC
19.1
34.36M
7
NFL
49ers/Panthers
NFC Divisional
FOX
19.9
33.30M
8
NFL
Eagles/Cowboys
Regular Season Week 13
FOX
14.2
32.03M
9
NFL
Colts/Patriots
AFC Divisional
CBS
17.8
31.69M
10
Oly.
Opening Ceremony
NBC
17.0
31.69M
11
NFL
Saints/Seahawks
NFC Divisional
FOX
18.1
31.10M
12
NFL
Chargers/Bengals
AFC Wild Card
CBS
18.9
30.90M
13
NFL
Patriots/Packers
Regular Season Week 13
CBS
17.6
30.88M
14
NFL
Cowboys/Seahawks (69%)
Regular Season Week 6
FOX
17.4
30.02M
15
NFL
Bears/Lions
Regular Season Week 13
CBS
14.2
29.41M
16
NFL
Broncos/Patriots (92%)
Regular Season Week 9
CBS
16.8
29.09M
17
NFL
Lions/Packers (87%)
Regular Season Week 17
FOX
15.6
28.51M
18
NFL
49ers/Cowboys
Regular Season Week 1
FOX
15.7
28.00M
19
NFL
Chiefs/Colts
AFC Wild Card
NBC
16.0
27.58M
20
NFL
Broncos/Seahawks (89%)
Regular Season Week 3
CBS
15.8
27.29M
21
NFL
Cowboys/Giants (92%)
Regular Season Week 7
FOX
15.6
26.98M
22
NFL
Packers/Seahawks
NFL Kickoff Game
NBC
15.5
26.91M
23
NFL
Eagles/Packers (84%)
Regular Season Week 11
FOX
15.1
26.50M
23
FIFA
Germany/Argentina
World Cup Final
ABC, Univ.
N/A
26.50M
25
NFL
49ers/Seahawks (84%)
Regular Season Week 15
FOX
15.7
26.48M
26
NFL
Dolphins/Broncos (83%)
Regular Season Week 12
CBS
15.5
26.38M
27
Oly.
Primetime (2/9)
NBC
14.4
26.32M
28
CFB
FSU/Auburn
BCS Championship
ESPN, ESPN2, ESNWS
14.8
26.06M
29
NFL
Seahawks/Eagles (91%)
Regular Season Week 14
FOX
15.6
25.93M
30
NFL
Colts/Cowboys (93%)
Regular Season Week 16
CBS
15.2
25.89M
31
NFL
Eagles/49ers (88%)
Regular Season Week 4
FOX
15.0
25.82M
32
Oly.
Primetime (2/8)
NBC
13.9
25.12M
33
NFL
Chiefs/Broncos (56%)
Regular Season Week 2
CBS
14.4
24.94M
34
FIFA
USA/Portugal
World Cup Group Play
ESPN, Univ.
N/A
24.76M
35
NFL
Cowboys/Eagles
Regular Season Week 15
NBC
14.3
24.25M
36
NFL
49ers/Broncos
Regular Season Week 7
NBC
13.8
23.79M
37
Oly.
Primetime (2/11)
NBC
13.7
23.72M
38
NFL
Colts/Broncos
Regular Season Week 1
NBC
13.9
23.69M
39
Oly.
Primetime (2/17)
NBC
13.8
23.55M
40
MLB
Giants/Royals
World Series Game 7
FOX
13.7
23.52M
41
Oly.
Primetime (2/13)
NBC
13.4
22.94M
42
NFL
Seahawks/49ers
Regular Season Week 13
NBC
11.4
22.85M
43
NFL
Giants/Seahawks (86%)
Regular Season Week 10
FOX
13.5
22.72M
44
NFL
Saints/Cowboys
Regular Season Week 4
NBC
13.3
22.68M
45
Oly.
Primetime (2/10)
NBC
12.8
22.40M
46
NFL
Cowboys/Giants
Regular Season Week 12
NBC
13.1
22.38M
47
NFL
Cardinals/Cowboys (63%)
Regular Season Week 9
FOX
13.2
22.27M
48
NFL
Bears/49ers
Regular Season Week 2
NBC
12.9
22.16M
49
FIFA
Belgium/USA
World Cup Round of 16
ESPN, Univ.
N/A
21.57M
50
Oly.
Primetime (2/16)
NBC
12.1
21.27M
應該看得眼花撩亂吧，疑?? 怎麼全部被NFL洗板? MLB只有一個，而且還在第40名，那NBA呢? 連前50都排不上，在前50名當中，NFL包辦了38名，前20名只有奧運開幕式搶在第10，其他全部由NFL拿下，而且NFL許多場次是例行賽，這樣是不是很驚人呢?
好，那我們再看一張表，把NFL以及奧運剃除掉，找出前50名。
Most-Watched Sporting Events, NFL and Olympics Excluded
#
Sport
Event
Net
Rtg.
Vwrs.
1
FIFA
Germany/Argentina
World Cup Final
ABC, Univ.
N/A
26.50M
2
CFB
FSU/Auburn
BCS Championship
ESPN
14.8
26.06M
3
FIFA
USA/Portugal
World Cup Group Play
ESPN, Univ.
N/A
24.76M
4
MLB
Giants/Royals
World Series Game 7
FOX
13.7
23.52M
5
FIFA
Belgium/USA
World Cup Round of 16
ESPN, Univ.
N/A
21.57M
6
CBB
Connecticut/Kentucky
National Championship
CBS
12.4
21.20M
7
Horse
The Belmont Stakes
Race Segment
NBC
11.9
20.40M
8
CFB
Michigan St./Stanford
Rose Bowl
ESPN
10.2
18.64M
9
NBA
Heat/Spurs
NBA Finals Game 5
ABC
10.3
18.00M
10
FIFA
Netherlands/Mexico
World Cup Round of 16
ESPN, Univ.
N/A
16.96M
11
CFB
Oklahoma/Alabama
Sugar Bowl
ESPN
9.3
16.34M
12
CBB
Kentucky/Wisconsin
Final Four
TBS, TNT, TruTV
9.2
16.25M
13
FIFA
USA/Ghana
World Cup Group Play
ESPN, Univ.
N/A
15.94M
14
Horse
Kentucky Derby
Race Segment
NBC
9.4
15.30M
15
NBA
Heat/Spurs
NBA Finals Game 2
ABC
9.0
15.13M
16
NBA
Spurs/Heat
NBA Finals Game 4
ABC
9.3
14.96M
17
NBA
Heat/Spurs
NBA Finals Game 1
ABC
9.0
14.85M
18
NBA
Spurs/Heat
NBA Finals Game 3
ABC
9.0
14.78M
19
CBB
Kentucky/Michigan
Elite Eight
CBS
8.9
14.64M
20
FIFA
Germany/USA
World Cup Group Play
ESPN, Univ.
N/A
14.16M
21
CFB
Auburn/Alabama
Regular Season
ESPN
7.4
13.53M
22
MLB
Giants/Royals
World Series Game 6
FOX
8.1
13.37M
23
CFB
Notre Dame/FSU
Regular Season
ABC
7.9
13.25M
24
MLB
Giants/Royals
World Series Game 2
FOX
7.9
12.92M
25
CFB
Alabama/Missouri
Regular Season
CBS
7.8
12.80M
26
MLB
Royals/Giants
World Series Game 5
FOX
7.3
12.64M
27
FIFA
Germany/Brazil
World Cup Semifinal
ESPN, Univ.
N/A
12.40M
28
FIFA
Argentina/Netherlands
World Cup Semifinal
ESPN, Univ.
N/A
12.20M
29
MLB
Giants/Royals
World Series Game 1
FOX
7.3
12.19M
30
MLB
Royals/Giants
World Series Game 3
FOX
7.2
12.13M
31
CBB
Kentucky/Wichita St.
Third Round
CBS
7.5
12.09M
32
FIFA
Brazil/Colombia
World Cup Quarterfinal
ESPN, Univ.
N/A
11.84M
33
CBB
UConn/Florida
Final Four
TBS, TNT, TruTV
6.9
11.65M
34
CBB
UNC/Iowa St.
Third Round
CBS
7.0
11.62M
35
CFB
Clemson/Ohio St.
Orange Bowl (January)
ESPN
6.7
11.40M
36
MLB
MLB All-Star Game
FOX
7.0
11.34M
37
CFB
UCF/Baylor
Fiesta Bowl (January)
ESPN
6.6
11.24M
38
FIFA
Brazil/Mexico
World Cup Group Play
ESPN, Univ.
N/A
11.08M
39
Golf
The Masters
Final Round
CBS
6.8
10.97M
40
FIFA
Netherlands/Costa Rica
World Cup Quarterfinal
ESPN, Univ.
N/A
10.92M
41
FIFA
Costa Rica/Greece
World Cup Round of 16
ESPN, Univ.
N/A
10.78M
42
MLB
Royals/Giants
World Series Game 4
FOX
6.3
10.74M
43
FIFA
Brazil/Chile
World Cup Round of 16
ABC, Univ.
N/A
10.71M
44
CFB
Miss. St./Alabama
Regular Season
CBS
6.4
10.27M
45
CFB
Georgia Tech/FSU
ACC Championship
ABC
6.2
10.15M
46
CBB
Kentucky/Louisville
Sweet Sixteen
CBS
5.9
10.09M
47
CBB
Wisconsin/Arizona
Elite Eight
TBS
5.8
9.97M
48
CBB
UConn/Michigan St.
Elite Eight
CBS
6.1
9.80M
49
FIFA
Mexico/Croatia
World Cup Group Play
ESPN, Univ.
N/A
9.64M
50
Horse
The Preakness Stakes
Race Segment
NBC
6.0
9.63M
在這張表中，各位可以看到在前50名中NBA及MLB出現了10次、9次，到目前為止，有沒有跌破各位眼鏡呢?
我們再做一次篩選，把每種運動最多收看人數的場次列出作排名。
Most-Watched Events By Sport
Sport
Event
Net
Rating
Viewers
NFL
Seahawks/Broncos
Super Bowl 48
FOX
46.7
112.19M
Soccer
Germany/Argentina
World Cup Final
ABC, Univ.
N/A
26.50M
CFB
FSU/Auburn
BCS Championship
ESPN
14.8
26.06M
MLB
Giants/Royals
World Series Game 7
FOX
13.7
23.52M
CBB
Connecticut/Kentucky
National Championship
CBS
12.4
21.20M
Horse
The Belmont Stakes
Race Segment
NBC
11.9
20.40M
NBA
Heat/Spurs
NBA Finals Game 5
ABC
10.3
18.00M
Golf (M)
The Masters
Final Round
CBS
6.8
10.97M
NSCS
Daytona 500
FOX
5.6
9.30M
NHL
Rangers/Kings
Stanley Cup Final Game 2
NBC
3.7
6.41M
IndyCar
Indianapolis 500
ABC
3.9
6.20M
Tennis (W)
S. Williams/Wozniacki
U.S. Open Final
CBS
2.9
4.50M
WCBB
UConn/Notre Dame
National Championship
ESPN
2.8
4.27M
MMA
UFC on FOX 10
FOX
1.9
3.17M
Tennis (M)
Djokovic/Federer
Wimbledon Final
ESPN
1.9
2.82M
Golf (W)
U.S. Women’s Open
Final Round
NBC
1.4
2.00M
WNBA
Mercury/Lynx
West Finals Game 2
ABC
0.6
828K
NFL 平均收視率為 46.7，最多同時收看人數為 1億1千2百萬人
MLB 平均收視率為 13.7，最多同時收看人數為 2千6百萬人
NBA 平均收視率為 10.3，最多同時收看人數為 1千8百萬人
NHL 平均收視率為 3.7，最多同時收看人數為 6百41萬人
(美國2014年總人口約為3.2億，收視率不是用總人口算但差別不是很多所以先暫時用總人口作基準)
(中華職棒2014年總冠軍賽 平均收視率 1.13 )
請繼續往下閱讀
看完了收視率及收視人口，我們來看各運動總冠軍賽”廣告價錢”，當然，價錢越高代表越多人看、越受歡迎，相信大家看完上面的表後對廣告價錢會由哪個運動奪下第一應該心裡有個底了。
2014年 Super Bowl 30秒的廣告要價 $400萬美金 (約台幣1.2億)
2014年 World Series 30秒的廣告要價 $52萬美金
2014年 NBA Finals 30秒的廣告要價 $46萬美金
2014年 Stanley Cup 30秒的廣告要價 $12.3萬美金
應該有許多人看完以上數據會覺得，這篇根本是NFL專題吧! 事實上NFL在美國真的太紅，導致上面數據與其他種運動有相當大的差距。
總結: 其實把各種運動拿來一起比有些不公平，NFL例行賽每隊只有16場，季後賽及冠軍賽更是一場定生死，當然收視率會高出許多，NHL則是在北部比較盛行，加上加拿大收視人口沒有算進來，總而言之，撇開賽制或是其他因素，NFL確實是美國最受歡迎的運動，Super Bowl 的廣告不僅搶手，更是許多經典廣告的出處之一。