CBS, which had Saints-Giants in the national window last week, is up 8% in game veiwershipgetty images
NFL viewership is up 1% after four weeks of game action, marking the first time the league is in positive territory at the quarter point of the season in a number of years. Games are averaging 15.64 million viewers to date, up from 15.16 million viewers at this time last year. Last year, NFL TV partners had to deal with many Florida markets being out due to a hurricane, as well as the continued rise of cable news networks. Helping bring the league closer to positive territory is CBS on Sunday afternoons. CBS is up 8% in game viewership to date, with its two national windows up 12%. Despite the year-over-year gain, CBS’ average of 16.3 million viewers is lower than the 17.2 million viewers seen two years ago through Week 4. Also seeing a small gain this season to date is the “Thursday Night Football” package, which switched to Fox as the broadcast TV partner this season. After three “TNF” games -- one on Fox, two on NFL Net -- the package is up 1% in viewership compared to CBS and NFL Network at the same point in ’17.
ROOM TO GROW: Fox on Sunday afternoons is down 2% to date, averaging 17.9 million viewers. That also is the net’s lowest mark through Week 4 since ’08. Regional and singleheader windows are actually up for Fox, but its two national windows to date are down 7%. Meanwhile, NBC is down 1% for “Sunday Night Football” to date. That comes despite a 13% decline for the NFL Kickoff game (45-minute lightning delay). NBC also is at its lowest point since ’08 after four weeks. Despite the drop, NBC continues to win primetime and remains on pace to lead all of primetime TV in viewership for the eighth straight season. Over on cable TV, ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” package is down 4% from the same point last season. But ESPN’s numbers last year include its best figure of ’17 with a Cowboys game in Week 4. This season, “MNF” does not feature the Cowboys until Week 9. Compared to two seasons ago after Week 4, “MNF” is actually up.
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NFL GAME VIEWERSHIP THROUGH WEEK 4
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NET
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'18 (000)
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'17 (000)
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% +/-
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|
NBC*
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19,847
|
20,095
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-1%
|
|
Fox
|
17,906
|
18,220
|
-2%
|
|
CBS
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16,330
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15,186
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8%
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ESPN
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11,400
|
11,904
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-4%
|
|
Fox/NFLN**
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10,078
|
9,941
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1%
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NOTES: * = Includes NFL Kickoff. ** = NFL Net has Weeks 2-3, with Fox in Week 4. Last year, CBS was the broadcast partner.
