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CBS posted a graphic this week showing the total TV time pop star Taylor Swift received during the AFC Championship Game. For those that believe she’s shown too much during the broadcast, the numbers might come as a surprise.
T-Swift has become a focal point of the NFL season given her budding relationship with Chiefs star Travis Kelce.
Her impact on ratings has been incredible, with reports recently noting a $331.5 million brand value generation for the league this year.
Her presence in the NFL Playoffs has only caused that exposure to rise.
The Bills-Chiefs postseason matchup is direct evidence seeing a record 50.4 million viewers tune in. The most ever for a Divisional Round game!
But with the positive comes the negative.
A number of football fans have been critical of the constant cutaways to the Kelce suite as they’re forced to watch her celebrate with the likes of Brittany and Jackson Mahomes.
But is the hate warranted?
Sure, she’s become an off-field story for those just hoping to enjoy the games. But for those critical of the supposedly frequent in-game cameos, CBS had a response.
CBS posts graphic showing Taylor Swift airtime.
Taylor Swift was shown on TV for a total of 44 seconds during Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.
Based on a 3-hour and 9-minute game, she was shown 0.39% of the time, receiving roughly the same screen time as people making, serving, and eating crab cakes.
(Reddit: u/JPAnalyst) pic.twitter.com/Rz7lCuOlQW
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) January 30, 2024
Swift was on the screen for just 44 seconds of game action, being shown a total of seven times. For reference, Brittany Mahomes was on the broadcast 10 seconds, the local aquarium for 24 seconds, employees serving food for 27 seconds, and John Harbaugh’s family for a combined nine seconds.
Many were quick to comment, with most coming to the singer’s defense.
“Y’all are this mad about Taylor Swift being on TV for 44 whole seconds?”
“Taylor Swift was shown on-camera for a whopping 44 seconds during the AFC title game! The humanity! The people complaining about her attending her boyfriend’s games are weird.”
“This is a great graphic for all the people whining about seeing ‘too much Taylor.'”
“What filled the other 2 hours 56 minutes? Could probably use more TayTay to be honest.”
The game, itself, lasted just over three hours meaning Swift was only on air 0.39% of the broadcast.
Given the constant social media attention and her presence on the field after the game, it might feel like much more, but for folks looking to bash networks for constant coverage, it could be eye-opening.