The first game of the 2024 NFL season reached a huge audience.

NBC reported that Thursday night’s Ravens-Chiefs game drew an average of 28.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched NFL Kickoff game since the league began the tradition of starting the season on Thursday nights.

Viewership was up 5 percent from last year’s 27.5 million viewers for the season opener between the Lions and Chiefs.

Kansas City was the best local market with a 43.4 local rating and an 80 share, meaning that 80 percent of all TVs in use in Kansas City on Thursday night were tuned to the Chiefs. Baltimore had the next-best local ratings with a 24.5 rating and a 60 share.

The NFL has proven to be the only television property in America immune to the ratings declines that come with cable cuts, streaming, and audience fractures. With the election approaching, many Americans may be turning to the news instead of sports, and the league’s ratings could suffer. But 2024 started off with a bang for the NFL.