The first four weeks of the ’14 regular season have delivered mixed results for NFL TV partners compared to the same period last season. But despite some declines, NFL games continue to lead ratings and viewership among all programming on TV. NFL games rank as the 12 most-viewed shows on TV since Labor Day and are the only programs to draw at least 19 million viewers. During TV’s fall premiere week, NFL games still took the top two spots among all programs.
PRIME NUMBERS: NBC’s broadcasts, which have included the NFL Kickoff game and four “SNF” telecasts, are seeing a viewership uptick through Week 4. NBC’s 22.98 million viewers are up 2% from the same period in ’13, despite each game having a score differential of at least 12 points heading into the fourth quarter. The Cowboys’ blowout win over the Saints in Week 4 was still the most-viewed primetime program during premiere week. Meanwhile, CBS and NFL Network have combined to average a 10.0 rating and 16.1 million viewers for its first three "TNF" games, which have all had lopsided scores. NFL Network alone carried the "TNF" games last year. Looking at CBS' Thursday primetime rating average alone, the net is seeing strong gains compared to the scripted Thursday programming in that time slot last year. Over on cable TV, ESPN’s “MNF” continues to lead all programming. The net is averaging 13.57 million viewers through five games, which is its lowest figure through Week 4 since ’11. “MNF” is down 3% from 13.99 million viewers last year.
AFTERNOON CROWD: Fox’ NFL game windows are averaging 20.6 million viewers to date, marking the net’s second-best start on record. That figure is behind only last year, when Fox was averaging 21.4 million viewers through Week 4. The net has had two Sunday national windows (4:25pm ET) to date. Those windows are averaging 27.0 million viewers, down from 27.8 million last year. Despite the decline, Fox’ national window average is ahead of CBS for the same window. However, CBS' 26.2 million viewers for its two Sunday afternoon telecasts in the 4:25pm window are up from its 26.1 million viewers last year. For all CBS Sunday game telecasts, the net is averaging 18.3 million viewers, up around 7.5% from 17.02 million viewers last year.
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NFL GAME VIEWERSHIP THROUGH WEEK 4
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|
NET
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'14 (000)
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'13 (000)
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'12 (000)
|
'11 (000)
|
'10 (000)
|
|
NBC*
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22,979
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22,584
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23,320
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23,168
|
22,853
|
|
Fox
|
20,600
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21,400
|
18,900
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20,500
|
19,677
|
|
CBS^
|
18,300
|
17,018
|
16,800
|
17,500
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18,699
|
|
CBS/NFLN**
|
16,100
|
n/a
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n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
|
ESPN
|
13,568
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13,987
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13,969
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13,087
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14,786
|
| |
|
|
|
|
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NOTES: * = Includes NFL Kickoff, which aired on a Wednesday in '12 to accommodate the Democratic National Convention. The '08 NFL Kickoff started at 7:00pm ET on a Thursday night to accommodate coverage of the Republican National Convention. ^ = Sunday telecasts only. ** = Beginning in '14, NFL Net simulcasted "TNF" with CBS for Weeks 2-8.
