NBC earned an 11.7 final rating and 19.4 million viewers for the Patriots' blowout "SNF" win over the Bengals this week, up 12% and 10%, respectively, from the 49ers' 34-3 victory over the Texans in the comparable '13 game. Both games had head-to-head competition with MLB LDS games. Meanwhile, CBS and NFL Network finished with a combined 9.8 rating and 16.5 million viewers for the Packers' 42-10 "TNF" win over the Vikings. Through four "TNF" games, both CBS and NFLN are averaging a 9.9 rating and 16.2 million viewers, despite three of those having the highest margin of victory on a Thursday since '06. Overall, "TNF" games have given CBS a 33% viewership increase compared to the net's primetime programming in '13. The Seahawks' "MNF" win over the Redskins in Week 5 earned an 8.2 final rating and 13.1 million viewers on ESPN, up 9% and 15%, respectively, from a 7.5 rating and 11.4 million viewers for the comparable Jets-Falcons matchup last year. The game also helped ESPN win the night among all networks in viewers and all key male and adult demos. NFL Now also saw 42% users access the OTT service on a mobile device in Week 5, while 34% used a desktop (Josh Carpenter, Staff Writer).
PATRIOT LEAGUE: Bengals-Patriots also earned a 35.6 local rating in Boston, marking the most-watched program of the week in the region. That game, along with the Week 4 Patriots-Chiefs "MNF" game and corresponding two postgame shows, gave the Patriots the four most-watched shows of the week in the Boston market (Patriots).
FOX TROT: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Joe Flint reports Fox is "buying a small TV station in the Seattle area as part of a strategy to own television stations in markets" where there is an NFL franchise. Fox "has agreed to pay" $10M for KBCB-TV, a station owned by Venture Technologies Group. Fox "sees value in owning TV stations in markets with an NFC team." Fox "already owns stations in most markets where there is an NFC team," including N.Y., Chicago and DC (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/8).
EXTREME MAKEOVER: MULTICHANNEL NEWS' Jaclyn Turman notes as it "moves toward a network transformation," Spanish-language cable network mun2 will "continue to add more linear properties and digital content from NBC Sports Group." The 40 million-subscriber channel will "unveil a new name" on Feb. 1 when it will air Super Bowl XLIX, its "first go-round" with the game (MULTICHANNEL NEWS, 10/6 issue).
