Overnight ratings were a mixed bag during the opening Sunday of the '15 NFL season. NBC drew a 16.7 rating for the Cowboys’ come-from-behind win last night over the Giants, marking the best opening “SNF” telecast since ’12, when the net earned an 18.0 overnight for Peyton Manning’s debut with the Broncos. Last night's game is up 11% from a 15.1 rating for Colts-Broncos “SNF” opener in '14. Dallas earned a 35.9 local rating for “SNF,” while N.Y. pulled a 19.3. CBS earned a 14.7 overnight for its national window yesterday, which featured Ravens-Broncos in 80% of U.S. markets. That number is down 15% from Fox’ coverage last year of 49ers-Cowboys, which was in 89% of homes. CBS did earn a 10.6 overnight for its regional coverage, up 13% from last year. Fox earned an 11.7 overnight for its singleheader window yesterday, its best since a 13.3 in ’00. “Fox NFL Sunday” led the way on pregame shows with a 3.6 overnight -- flat from last year -- while CBS’ “The NFL Today” earned a 2.9 rating (Josh Carpenter, Staff Writer).
|
NFL WEEK 1: SUNDAY OVERNIGHT RATINGS
|
| NET |
'15
GAME |
OVERNIGHT
|
'14
NET |
'14
GAME |
OVERNIGHT
|
%
+/-
|
| Fox |
(single) |
11.7
|
CBS |
(single) |
11.2
|
4.5%
|
| CBS |
(regional) |
10.6
|
Fox |
(regional) |
9.4
|
12.8%
|
| CBS |
Ravens-Broncos (80%) |
14.7
|
Fox |
49ers-Cowboys (89%) |
17.4
|
-15.5%
|
| NBC |
Giants-Cowboys |
16.7
|
NBC |
Colts-Broncos |
15.1
|
10.6%
|
IN MIDSEASON FORM: In Baltimore, David Zurawik wrote play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and analyst Phil Simms “turned in a solid performance in the Broncos' 19-13 victory over the Ravens on CBS.” Down the stretch during the “nail-biting last 2 minutes of the game, Nantz was a lot better than solid.” His announcing “was as good as it gets in the NFL, with him kicking his game into a higher gear that matched the intensity of play on the field.” And as the telecast came out of the break for the 2-minute warning, the screen “was filled with the faces of screaming Broncos fans, which upped the ante on excitement even higher.” Overall, it was a “B-plus Ravens telecast” (
BALTIMORESUN.com, 9/13).
TAKING A MULLIGAN: In DC, Des Bieler noted NBC cameras during "SNF" panned to Cowboys QB Tony Romo's suite to "point out the presence of Tiger Woods," but the net "overlooked the guy who just won both the Masters and U.S. Open" in Jordan Spieth, who was next to Woods. While Woods was "more noticeable in NBC's shot, and even with Spieth's recent success, is a far more recognizable public figure," it still is "an embarrassment" that the net missed him (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 9/13). GOLF DIGEST's Alex Myers asks, "What does it take for Spieth to get noticed?! ... Maybe he just needs to wear his green jacket everywhere" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 9/14).
FORGOING THE LOCAL TEAMS: Orlando's WKMG-CBS decided "not to show" Titans-Buccaneers yesterday in the late window and "opted for the big national game" of Ravens-Broncos, while WOFL-Fox aired Packers-Bears at 1:00pm instead of Panthers-Jaguars. In Orlando, Mike Bianchi wrote the decision by the two local TV stations "not to show the Bucs and Jags is indicative" of a couple things. Their games are "ratings death for local TV GMs who only show Bucs and Jags road games because the NFL requires it." Bianchi: "Why would local stations choose to show bad teams if they have the choice of airing a high-profile national game?" Also, the Jaguars and Bucs "have done nothing to win over this market" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9/12).
STAND AND DELIVER: SI.com's Richard Deitsch wrote CBS' "The NFL Today" has "embraced the favorite new move of television consultants -- having studio talent standing or moving rather than sitting behind a desk." Host James Brown yesterday "opened the first segment standing as he introduced the games of the day." He then "sent it over to analysts Bill Cowher and Tony Gonzalez (standing at another part of the studio), who passed the baton to analysts Bart Scott and Boomer Esiason (standing in another part of the studio) who sent it over to insider Jason LaCanfora." The show as a whole "felt fresher and the set certainly looked great." But the in-show crossover to the NFL Network’s "GameDay" crew seemed "only for the promotional benefit of both networks -- and not viewers." When the group "got behind the desk and did a segment on which teams were on the rise, it was the most viewer-friendly part of the show" (SI.com, 9/13). Meanwhile, in N.Y., Bob Raissman writes Fox' Colin Cowherd "was certainly uncomfortable to watch" during the net's new "NFL Kickoff" show yesterday morning. Cowherd was "uptight, showing absolutely no signs of his free-flowing, sometimes bombastic, radio stylings." Then, things "got worse" when he came on "Fox NFL Sunday,” as he "gave a dissertation on 'quarterback’s facial symmetry'" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/14).
COMIC RELIEF: In L.A., Tom Hoffarth wrote "Fox NFL Sunday" comedian Rob Riggle seems to be "given a little more wiggle room than predecessors Jimmy Kimmel and Frank Caliendo." Riggle "has the discipline to learn since coming onto Fox in 2012 what lines he wants to cross and how it reflects on his persona." Riggle said, "I love the NFL but there’s a lot of craziness happening. We just have to find a balance. I try to push it as far as I can but I also know if I do certain things, it’s never going to make it on air. That’s when we get into self-policing. Don’t forget, it’s gotta be PG, it’s a family show, on for everyone. There’s a narrow lane to work in, but we find a way" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 9/13).
THIRSTY THURSDAY: NBC finished with 27.4 million viewers for Thursday night's Steelers-Patriots NFL Kickoff game, marking the 14-year-old event's second-best viewership on record, behind only 27.5 million viewers for Vikings-Saints in '10 (NBC). In San Diego, Nick Canepa wrote the NFL "should drop the idea of opening its season with a Thursday night game." Both competing teams "get nine days off before playing the second game -- more time to prepare, more time to heal." The Patriots won the Super Bowl, and thus "deserve a spotlight game to open the season." Canepa: "Give them the first Sunday night game, the biggest show on television" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 9/13).
HERE COMES THE BOOM: ESPN's Chris Berman said of preparing to call tonight's Vikings-49ers "MNF" game, "I immerse myself in the media guides. I’m into where people come from, their histories, what they might have done off the field even though that doesn’t have the chance to be wedged in all the time on a third-and-8 play. ... It’s a different week for me because I’m preparing for all 32 teams. I do the ‘NFL Countdown’ show on Sunday morning and then fly to the game. ... I’m preparing for a banquet for 32 but also preparing to do a gourmet meal for two. But the bottom line is I can’t wait to do it" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 9/12).
