Match of the Day sees decline in viewer numbers
Match of the Day has experienced a notable decline in conventional viewership, with figures falling by roughly 770,000 compared to the same period last year, reports BritPanorama.
Between August and December 2024, the programme averaged 7.65 million weekly viewers across television and iPlayer. This figure dropped to 6.88 million in the equivalent months in 2025.
This season marks a significant transition for the long-running programme, with Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan taking over presenting duties following Gary Lineker’s departure at the end of last season. The former England striker left the show after significant backlash over a social media post that included an illustration of a rat, an image historically associated with antisemitic messaging.
The incident is part of a broader backdrop of impartiality controversies surrounding Lineker, including a temporary suspension in March 2023 over his comments regarding the government’s asylum policy. He subsequently apologized for the post, claiming he had not seen the image and would “never knowingly share anything antisemitic.”
BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski addressed the decline in viewers across traditional platforms. The corporation asserts that the success of its digital highlights offering has more than compensated for the drop in traditional viewership. He indicated, “We are meeting audiences on their terms and it’s great to see how many people are enjoying that… By evolving the format and embracing digital platforms, we’re engaging more people than ever and increasing the reach of this iconic show.”
Since the new Premier League broadcasting agreement came into effect at the start of the current campaign, the BBC has been allowed to publish match clips from 8pm on Saturdays. These early highlights have averaged 1.52 million weekly views from August to December 2025. Additionally, digital engagement has reportedly grown significantly, with requests up 87 per cent compared to the same period in 2022-23.
The transition of Match of the Day continues to signal shifts in how audiences consume sports media, a reminder that even cherished traditions like this must adapt in the rapidly changing digital landscape.
