NFL heads to Australia in a first for international football

Summary

CNBC's Alex Sherman previews the NFL's first game in Australia, a Rams-49ers matchup in Melbourne, as part of the league's broader international expansion push. He highlights the large gap between domestic and international viewership, time-zone and scheduling challenges, and the NFL's global market rights program. The piece frames international games as a growth priority as US TV viewership nears saturation.

• The Rams and 49ers will play in Melbourne, Australia, next week, marking the NFL's first game in Australia.
• The NFL has nine international games this year, its largest international slate yet.
• Week 1 Chiefs-Chargers viewership was over 18 million domestically versus about 1.2 million internationally.
• Australia is the most extreme time-zone difference game for the NFL at around a 14-hour gap.
• The NFL's global market program grants teams regional marketing rights; the Rams own Australia rights and will be the home team.
• The 49ers left early to practice in Australia, while the Rams plan to arrive about 24 hours before kickoff.
• The NFL sees US TV football viewership as largely saturated and is prioritizing international growth.