More fans are watching NFL games on television through the season's first four weeks than ever before, according to information provided by The Nielsen Company.
More than 150 million fans* have tuned in to at least part of an NFL game this season – topping 146.1 viewers million at this point last year. The average NFL game telecast (including broadcast and cable) has drawn 18.9 million viewers* – double the average primetime viewership (9.2 million) for the big four broadcast networks in the new television season.
In addition, a record nine game telecasts have topped the 20-million viewer mark. Other than NFL games, only two programs have drawn 20 million viewers this fall.
Locally, NFL games topped the ratings 93 percent of the time – a record through four weeks. Half of the NFL clubs (16 of 32) have posted at least a 10 percent increase in local ratings compared to 2009.
NFL telecasts have been TV's most-watched program of the week in all four weeks of the season, with this week's FOX national game (mostly Redskins-Eagles) drawing 23.1 million viewers.
Viewership for all four network partners is up through four weeks. Following is a look at the four-week success for each network:
CBS
· Most-watched start ever for CBS AFC package
· Most-watched CBS September telecast on record (CBS national, mostly Patriots-Jets, 9/19)
ESPN
· Most-watched start ever for ESPN primetime package
· Most-watched cable show of the year (Packers-Bears, 9/27) & Monday Night Football accounts for five most-watched cable programs this fall
FOX
· Most-watched start ever for FOX
· Most-watched Sunday Week 1 telecast on record (Fox national, mostly Packers-Eagles, 9/12)
NBC
· Most-watched start ever for Sunday Night Football
· Most-watched Kickoff Game ever (Vikings-Saints, 9/9) & Sunday night game ever (Cowboys-Redskins, 9/12)
(*estimates pending final viewership numbers for Week 4 CBS single and Fox regional telecasts due Thursday)
Following is the list of 24 NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Sept. 27-Oct. 3:
|
Week of 9/27–10/3 |
|
* * |
HH |
HH |
RTG |
|
Market |
Game |
Date |
RTG |
SHR |
Rank |
|
Milwaukee |
Packers at Bears |
9/27/10 |
55.0 |
72 |
1 |
|
Pittsburgh |
Ravens at Steelers |
10/3/10 |
47.5 |
73 |
1 |
|
New Orleans |
Panthers at Saints |
10/3/10 |
43.5 |
68 |
1 |
|
Chicago |
Bears at Giants |
10/3/10 |
39.3 |
54 |
1 |
|
Baltimore |
Ravens at Steelers |
10/3/10 |
36.1 |
67 |
1 |
|
Philadelphia |
Redskins at Eagles |
10/3/10 |
35.7 |
55 |
1 |
|
Indianapolis |
Colts at Jaguars |
10/3/10 |
35.0 |
56 |
1 |
|
Washington, DC |
Redskins at Eagles |
10/3/10 |
33.0 |
56 |
1 |
|
Buffalo |
Jets at Bills |
10/3/10 |
32.5 |
55 |
1 |
|
Cincinnati |
Bengals at Browns |
10/3/10 |
32.4 |
58 |
1 |
|
Jacksonville |
Colts at Jaguars |
10/3/10 |
30.9 |
51 |
1 |
|
Cleveland |
Bengals at Browns |
10/3/10 |
29.8 |
54 |
1 |
|
Nashville |
Broncos at Titans |
10/3/10 |
29.6 |
52 |
1 |
|
Denver |
Broncos at Titans |
10/3/10 |
25.8 |
56 |
1 |
|
Charlotte |
Panthers at Saints |
10/3/10 |
23.6 |
47 |
1 |
|
St. Louis |
Seahawks at Rams |
10/3/10 |
23.5 |
47 |
1 |
|
Houston |
Texans at Raiders |
10/3/10 |
23.1 |
44 |
1 |
|
Phoenix |
Cardinals at Chargers |
10/3/10 |
21.8 |
40 |
1 |
|
Seattle |
Seahawks at Rams |
10/3/10 |
21.1 |
46 |
1 |
|
Atlanta |
49ers at Falcons |
10/3/10 |
20.1 |
39 |
1 |
|
Dallas |
Redskins at Eagles |
10/3/10 |
17.8 |
36 |
1 |
|
San Fran-Oakland |
49ers at Falcons |
10/3/10 |
16.7 |
46 |
1 |
|
Minneapolis |
Packers at Bears |
9/27/10 |
16.4 |
25 |
1 |
|
San Diego |
Packers at Bears |
9/27/10 |
15.6 |
26 |
1 |
Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company
