The 97th Academy Awards ceremony drew an estimated 19.69 million viewers, delivering a five-year high in total viewers.
Seahawks CB Richard Sherman said the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell are "making the game less fun" by not allowing players to express their personality, thus leading to lower TV ratings.
A poll finds that fans think protests during the national anthem are contributing to a decline in TV ratings for the NFL.
Roger Goodell said the NFL is trying to understand the drop in ratings this season but said it is important not just to get viewers tuned in but also to "get them to stay tuned in."
The 2015 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers is the most watched series since 1998, Michael Jordan's last season with the Chicago Bulls.
The Blackhawks' six-game Stanley Cup finals victory over the Tampa Bay Lighting is the second most-watched behind Chicago's 2013 victory over the Boston Bruins.
