NBC finished with a 12.7 rating and 22.074 million viewers for the Redskins-Cowboys "SNF" telecast, up 8% and 11%, respectively, from an 11.8 rating and 19.922 million viewers for Packers-Texans in Week 6 last year. The "SNF" games from both years had competition from MLB LCS games on Fox. Redskins-Cowboys finished as the most-viewed primetime program on all of TV for the week of Oct. 7-13, and also led the way among males and females 18-34. Through six weeks of NFL games, NBC is averaging a 13.0 rating and 21.9 million viewers, down 4% and 1%, respectively, compared to the same point last season. Meanwhile, ESPN averaged a 7.7 rating and 12.0 million viewers for the Colts-Chargers Week 6 "MNF," down 6% and 7%, respectively, from Broncos-Chargers in Week 6 last year. "MNF" is averaging an 8.5 rating and 13.4 million viewers through Week 6, down 4% and 3%, respectively (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
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TOP PROGRAMS IN PRIMETIME FOR SUNDAY, OCT. 13
|
|
NET
|
PROGRAM |
RATING
|
VIEWERS (000)
|
|
NBC
|
"SNF": Redskins-Cowboys |
12.7
|
22,074
|
|
AMC
|
"The Walking Dead" |
8.1
|
16,111
|
|
CBS
|
"60 Minutes" |
7.0
|
10,620
|
|
CBS
|
"The Mentalist" |
6.1
|
9,385
|
|
CBS
|
"The Good Wife" |
5.6
|
8,460
|
|
Fox
|
Tigers-Red Sox ALCS Game 2 |
5.2
|
8,349
|
|
CBS
|
"Amazing Race" |
4.9
|
8,080
|
|
ABC
|
"Once Upon A Time" |
4.5
|
7,533
|
|
ABC
|
"Revenge" |
4.0
|
6,003
|
|
|
|
|
|
THE DOMINATION CONTINUES: In Akron, George Thomas writes the "sheer domination of the NFL in all facets of popular culture remains clear," and there is "little evidence to suggest America’s love affair with football will end any time soon." The NFL as of Oct. 6 "owns the top 12 spots in ratings results since Labor Day." In a time of "audience splintering, the NFL’s clout with television audiences demonstrates why it’s able to command" a reported $3.1B a year in rights fees. That is why viewers who have DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket "might eventually see it go elsewhere." The service is an exclusive on DirecTV, but the NFL "would be wise to consider opening it up to every video provider throughout the country" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 10/16).
NOT AS RELIABLE AS FIRST THOUGHT: In Albany, Pete Dougherty writes the Giants and Steelers "usually are safe bets for national TV," but with the teams so far a combined 1-10, the clubs "occupy some prime-time slots over the final 11 weeks." Both are "done on Monday night but have prime-time appearances remaining." The Giants are scheduled for Sunday night games on Nov. 17 (Packers) and Dec. 1 (Redskins), although those games "fall into NBC’s 'flex' period, meaning the network can opt out for a better matchup." The Steelers’ "lone remaining scheduled NBC appearance is Thanksgiving night against the Ravens, a game that can’t be swapped." CBS and Fox "could have some issues, too, unless they get some scheduling help." Networks with the NFL’s permission "can try to move other games" into the Giants' and Steelers' late-afternoon slots on Sundays. Unless the teams "go on a run, expect that to happen a lot in the second half" of the season (TIMESUNION.com, 10/15).
