What else can I write about the NFL’s ratings? They’re up every week. They set ratings records whether the games are on the over the air networks or on cable. The NFL is number one in viewing in local markets across the board. It’s the 800, no, make that the 1,000 lb. gorilla in the room that no one can challenge. Based on the ratings we’re seeing in the regular season, I’m thinking that the Super Bowl will also see a record viewership on CBS in February.
Here are two press releases, first from the NFL itself.
NFL TOPS ON TV THANKSGIVING WEEKEND
Patriots-Saints on ESPN 2nd Most-Watched Show in Cable History
Raiders-Cowboys Thanksgiving Game on CBS Week’s Most-Watched Show
Giants-Broncos Draws NFL Network Thanksgiving Record
The Thanksgiving tradition of family, food and football continued this past weekend as fans tuned into NFL games in large numbers.
Patriots-Saints on ESPN Monday night drew the second largest audience in cable history with 21.4 million viewers. Cable’s four largest audiences of all-time are ESPN Monday Night Football games. The cable record was set earlier this season with 21.8 million fans tuning in for Packers-Vikings on Oct. 5.
The CBS Thanksgiving game (Raiders-Cowboys) was the most-watched program on television last week (Nov. 23-29) with 25.2 million viewers. The FOX doubleheader game (mostly Bears-Vikings) was watched by 23.6 million viewers.
The Thanksgiving night Giants-Broncos game on NFL Network was watched by 6.1 million viewers (not including over-the-air markets), ranking as NFL Network’s most-watched Thanksgiving game and the second-most watched game in the four years of Thursday Night Football (Green Bay-Dallas, Nov. 29, 2007, 10.1 million viewers).
NFL games topped the local ratings in 26 NFL markets last week.
Following are the NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Nov. 23-29:
Week of 11/23-29
HH
HH
RTG
Market
Game
Date
RTG
SHR
Rank
Pittsburgh
Steelers at Ravens
11/29/09
49.0
66
1
Minneapolis
Bears at Vikings
11/29/09
45.0
72
1
Cincinnati
Browns at Bengals
11/29/09
40.4
68
1
Nashville *
Titans at Texans
11/23/09
36.8
50
1
Baltimore
Steelers at Ravens
11/29/09
36.2
52
1
Indianapolis
Colts at Texans
11/29/09
35.6
60
1
San Diego
Chiefs at Chargers
11/29/09
30.8
58
1
MilwaukeePackers at Lions
11/26/09
28.8
62
1
Denver **
Giants at Broncos
11/26/09
28.5
571
Buffalo
Dolphins at Bills
11/29/09
28.1
51
1
Phoenix
Cardinals at Titans
11/29/09
27.4
48
1
Kansas City
Chiefs at Chargers
11/29/09
27.3
45
1
Chicago
Bears at Vikings
11/29/09
26.9
47
1
Dallas
Raiders at Cowboys
11/26/09
26.8
65
1
Philadelphia
Redskins at Eagles
11/29/09
25.3
48
1
Houston *
Titans at Texans
11/23/09
25.2
38
1
Washington, DC
Redskins at Eagles
11/29/09
24.2
54
1
New Orleans
Bears at Vikings
11/29/09
23.6
35
1
Tampa
Buccaneers at Falcons
11/29/09
23.4
44
1
Detroit
Packers at Lions
11/26/09
21.8
48
1
Cleveland
Browns at Bengals
11/29/09
21.0
43
1
Charlotte
Panthers at Jets
11/29/09
20.9
40
1
Miami
Dolphins at Bills
11/29/09
19.3
42
1
Seattle
Seahawks at Rams
11/29/09
17.6
40
1
Boston
Colts at Texans
11/29/09
14.8
36
1
San Fran-Oakland
Jaguars at 49ers
11/29/09
14.3
38
1
* Local affiliate & ESPN combined
** Local affiliate & NFL Network combined
Source: NFL & Nielsen Media Research
And here’s Fox saying that Bears-Vikings was the most watched show of the week.
NFL ON FOX NATIONAL GAME IS TELEVISION’S No.1 SHOW
Sunday’s National Game, Driven by Bears-Vikings, Is No. 1 Show of Week for Sixth Time
NFL on FOX on Pace for Most-Watched Season in History
The NFL on FOX National Game ranks as the highest-rated and most-watched NFL game and is the No. 1 program in all of television across all key male and adult demos this season, according to figures released today by Nielsen Media Research.
The FOX National Game is averaging an outstanding 15.4/29 household rating/share and 26.0 million viewers through six broadcasts, up +11% over last year’s season-to-date rating (13.9/27) and up +16% in average audience (22.5 million). FOX’s 15.4 rating and 26.0 million viewers is +19% and +21% better, respectively, than CBS’s National Game (12.9, 21.4 million) and +31% and +33% better, respectively, than NBC’s Sunday Night Football (11.8, 19.5 million).
Last Sunday (11/30), the NFL on FOX National Game, led by the Chicago Bears-Minnesota Vikings contest, averaged a solid 14.3/26 household rating/share, with 23.6 million viewers to rank as the highest-rated and most watched program of the week on all networks for the sixth time this season in as many tries.
Complete NFL season to date ratings and audience figures are available through Week 11 and the NFL on FOX remains squarely on pace for its most-watched season in history. FOX is averaging an 11.6/24 household rating/share and 19.1 million viewers, up +13% and +16% respectively over last year’s 10.3/22 and 16.4 million. This season’s average audience of 19.1 million is FOX’s biggest ever by a comfortable margin. FOX’s second-best season on record is 1995’s 17.3 million through Week 11.
The NFL’s ratings are through the roof the season. It will be interesting to see if they continue this streak next season.
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