The NFL saw a mixed bag for its slate of Week 17 overnight ratings. NBC’s Eagles-Cowboys “SNF” finale led all games during the final week of play with a 16.8 overnight, but that figure was down 8% from the Cowboys-Redskins finale last year. The game delivered NBC a primetime win, peaking at a 18.0 rating during the 11:00-11:30pm ET window. The telecast earned a 40.1 local rating in Philadelphia, marking an “SNF” record for NBC in the market. Dallas-Ft. Worth earned a 37.0 local rating. CBS and Fox both had national windows in Week 17. Fox led the way with the NFC North-deciding Packers-Bears matchup featured in the window. That telecast earned a 15.2 overnight, down 7% from the net’s Week 17 window last year. Fox’ early regional window earned a 10.5 overnight, down 3%. CBS’ late national window, which featured Ravens-Bengals, earned a 12.0 overnight, up 8% from Texans-Colts in ’12. CBS’ regional window earned a 10.7 overnight, up 32% (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
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NFL WEEK 17 OVERNIGHT RATINGS
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NET
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'13 GAME
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RAT.
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'12 GAME
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RAT.
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% +/-
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Fox
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(regional)
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10.5
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(regional)
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10.8
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-2.8%
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CBS
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(regional)
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10.7
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(regional)
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8.1
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32.1%
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Fox
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Packers-Bears (63%)
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15.2
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Packers-Vikings (82%)
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16.4
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-7.3%
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CBS
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Ravens-Bengals (62%)
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12.0
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Texans-Colts (64%)
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11.1
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8.1%
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NBC
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Cowboys-Redskins
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16.8
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Cowboys-Redskins
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18.3
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-8.2%
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SOUR ENDING: In Baltimore, David Zurawik wrote the Ravens' loss to the Bengals on Sunday was "met with an equally lackluster effort in the booth by CBS." The broadcast featured CBS' top broadcast team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, and "what did we get but two subpar performances." Zurawik wrote Simms "delivered some of the most inconsistent analysis I have seen all year." Zurawik: "What I hate about NFL coverage on CBS more than anything else [is] the tone and sensibility of jocks in the booth playing to and for other jocks and members of NFL locker room fraternity instead of the viewers and fans." Meanwhile, the "last thing to which Nantz brought any passion as far as I can tell happened at the Masters" (
BALTIMORESUN.com, 12/29).
CLEAN UP YOUR ACT: In Tampa, Tom Jones writes it is "not surprising that Fox NFL Sunday gets the award for the most inappropriate comment of the weekend." The show during a review of the year in predictions with comedian Rob Riggle "ran a joke involving the improper use of a CPR dummy." Jones: "Think maybe kids might have been watching? Shame on Fox. Time to grow up, boys, and make this a show you can be proud of" (
TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/30).
BRONCOS BUSTIN' OUT: In Denver, Dusty Saunders writes based on NFL TV viewing this season, the Broncos are "America's team" rather than the Cowboys "by a wide margin." The first 16 weeks of the NFL season "produced 20 games watched by more than 25 million viewers, more than double last year's total of eight." The Broncos' popularity is "a major reason for this audience jump." The Broncos have "appeared in eight of the 20 games -- more than any other franchise," followed by the Cowboys (DENVER POST, 12/30).
