NBC and NFL Network last week finished with 13.33 million viewers for the Saints-Panthers “TNF” matchup, which was NBC’s first foray into a regular Thursday night NFL package. The net has aired Thanksgiving night games for a few years now, while the season-opening Thursday night games are not considered part of the "TNF" package. The 13.33 million viewers was below the audience figures for all but one “TNF” game on CBS this season (only the 12.07 million viewers for Cardinals-49ers in Week 5 was lower for CBS). Meanwhile, NBC’s Packers-Redskins “SNF” matchup drew 18.73 million viewers, up 4% from 18.0 million viewers for Bengals-Cardinals in Week 11 last year. The "SNF" average remains down 17% to date. Fox in Week 11 also had its lowest singleheader audience of the season, drawing 14.25 million viewers as the net's five matchups featured one game bewteen two winning teams. The L.A. market continues to hurt Fox, as the Rams' rating in the market is even with what other games are drawing in L.A. Fox' NFL viewership average remains down 4% to date. CBS benefited from cross-flex scheduling to draw its best NFL audience of the season. The Week 11 Sunday national window featuring Eagles-Seahawks drew 24.36 million viewers. However, CBS' game viewership remains down 10% (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
ON THE MEND: In L.A., Stephen Battaglio wrote there is "no dancing in the end zone yet, but the NFL is seeing a post-election day bump in its TV ratings." Fox Sports Exec VP/Research, League Operations & Strategy Mike Mulvihill said, "It’s a little premature to take a victory lap or say whatever problems we were examining a month ago have gone away, but there are some encouraging numbers out there." Battaglio noted aside from the end of the presidential election, the NFL is "likely being helped by the on-field narratives that have developed in recent weeks." The season began "without some of its biggest names, such as the retired Peyton Manning," but casual fans are "starting to recognize a new generation of stars" such as Cowboys QB Dak Prescott and Raiders QB Derek Carr (LATIMES.com, 11/22). In N.Y., Shaun King wrote with a "cultural victory under their belts, white NFL fans are now opting to tune back in and ratings are literally matching ratings from a year ago," well before 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick or any NFL players "ever took a knee or held up a Black Power fist" (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 11/22).
