February 4, 2012

UFC on FOX Dominates Primetime in Key Demos

February 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment


Saturday night’s UFC on FOX event from the United Center in Chicago posted a 2.6/5 national rating/share, according to figures released by Nielsen Media Research today. As expected, FOX dominated the night on the important younger demographics. FOX’s 2.4 among Adults 18-49 nearly beat the combined ratings of ABC, CBS, and NBC (2.5 combined) and FOX’s 2.5 among Adults 18-34 easily beat those three network competitors combined (1.4). The three-bout broadcast on FOX averaged 4.7 million viewers from 8:00 PM – 10:19 PM ET.

The two-hour event, the first official network broadcast of FOX’s partnership with UFC, is off slightly (-16%) from the UFC on FOX premiere in November (3.1/5), which was only one hour and featured a highly-anticipated heavyweight championship fight. When comparing similar time periods for the two events, FOX posted a 3.0/5 from 9:00 – 10:15 PM ET, off only a tenth from the November UFC fight.

In several meaningful demographics, the last hour of Saturday’s broadcast rated higher than November’s UFC premiere on FOX with Men 25-49 up +3%, Men 25-54 up +3%, Men 35-54 up +4%.

As anticipation to the night’s main event grew so did the ratings and viewership. The night’s first match between Demian Maia and Chris Weidman scored a 2.2/4 rating/share. The next fight between Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping grew to a 2.7/5. Fans tuned in to see former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans take on undefeated former national champion wrestler Phil Davis with that bout posting a 3.4/6. More than 6 million viewers watched the five-round bout where Evans defeated Davis by unanimous decision.

The top five metered markets for Saturday’s UFC on FOX event are: Las Vegas – 4.1/8; Louisville – 4.1/7; Indianapolis – 3.9/7; Greenville – 3.9/6; Tulsa – 3.9/6; and Knoxville – 3.9/6.

- UFCONFOX -

Filed Under: FOX, Ratings, UFC

57.9 Million Watch NFC Championship Overtime Thriller on FOX

January 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Sunday’s Giants/49ers Battle Ties 2010’s Vikings/Saints

As Highest-Rated Conference Title Game Since 1996

NFL on FOX Regular & Postseason Combine for Network’s Most-Watched Ever

New York – Yesterday’s epic 2012 NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME on FOX between the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers delivered an extraordinary 30.6/44 fast-national rating/share according to figures released by Nielsen Media Research. The overtime battle scored an average audience of 57.6 million viewers to rank as the third most-watched Conference Championship Game ever, after the 1982 Cowboys-49ers NFC Championship Game (68.7 million viewers on CBS) and 2010’s overtime Vikings-Saints NFC Championship (57.9 million viewers on FOX).

The rating for Sunday’s battle for the NFC crown ties with 2010’s game (Vikings/Saints – 30.6/45) as the highest-rated NFC Championship Game since 1996 (Packers/Cowboys – 33.3/58).

 

Last night’s fast-national rating of 30.6/44 is a +9% gain over last year’s 28.1/50 for Packers/Bears in the early window and +8% better than last year’s 28.3/43 for Jets/Steelers in the late window on CBS. Ratings climbed to extraordinary levels as the game progressed toward overtime, peaking at an astounding 36.9/52 rating and 69.0 million viewers from 10:00 – 10:30 PM ET.

The 2012 NFC Playoffs on FOX averaged a 23.9/43 (42.6 million viewers) making it the network’s most-watched NFL Playoffs ever. The average for FOX Sports’ coverage of the NFC’s Wild Card, Divisional and Conference Championship rounds is up +11% over last year’s 21.6/39 (38.7 million) and is FOX’s highest-rated NFL Playoffs since 1996’s 25.1/48 (37.2 million). The complete 2011-12 NFL season on FOX averaged over 23.2 million viewers for the regular season and playoffs combined, making it FOX’s most-watched NFL season ever, excluding Super Bowls.

San Francisco posted a 47.4/77, the second highest-rated NFL on FOX postseason game ever in the City by the Bay. New York notched a 41.8/58, FOX’s best NFL rating ever in the Big Apple for a non-Super Bowl game. After the Patriots punched their ticket to Super Bowl XLVI earlier in the evening, Boston tuned-in to find out who New England’s opponent would be, posting a 35.1/49, Boston’s highest-rating NFL on FOX non- Super Bowl playoff game. Other metered markets of note include Los Angeles (28.4/49) and Detroit (30.2/42).

Filed Under: FOX, NFL, Ratings

CBS Sports Boast Highest Viewer Avg for AFC Champ Game in 30 Years

January 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

CBS SPORTS’ COVERAGE OF AFC CHAMPIONSHIP BOASTS HIGHEST VIEWER AVERAGE FOR

EARLY AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN 30 YEARS WITH 48.7 MILLION

Fast National Rating is Highest for Early AFC Championship Game in 17 Years with 27.4/48

CBS Sports’ coverage of the 2012 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP game featuring the New England Patriots defeating the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Jan. 22 (3:07-6:16 PM, ET) averaged 48.7 million viewers (Persons 2+), which is the highest viewer average for the early AFC Championship game in 30 years (1/10/1982; 51.6 million viewers; San Diego-Cincinnati: NBC).

The 48.7 million viewers for the 2012 AFC Championship game also was the second-highest viewer average (behind last year’s 54.9 million for New York Jets-Pittsburgh) for the AFC Championship game in 30 years (1/10/1982; 51.6 million viewers; San Diego-Cincinnati; NBC).

The AFC CHAMPIONSHIP game earned a fast-national live + same-day average household rating/share of 27.4/48, which is the highest rating for an early AFC Championship game in 17 years (1/15/1995; 28.3/58; San Diego-Pittsburgh; NBC)

The Network’s coverage in the comparable early window in 2010 earned a 26.3/47 (New York Jets-Indianapolis) and last year earned a 28.3/43 (New York Jets-Pittsburgh) in the late window.

The AFC CHAMPIONSHIP game rating peaked at a 31.2/52 with an average of 56.8 million viewers from 5:30-6:00 PM, ET.

* * * *

Filed Under: CBS, NFL, Ratings

Steelers-Broncos On CBS Most-Watched Wild Card Game Ever

January 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

GAME ALSO MOST-WATCHED PROGRAM SINCE SUPER BOWL XLV

SECOND MOST-WATCHED WILD CARD WEEKEND EVER

 

Following a record-setting regular season, NFL fans continued to tune in for the Wild Card playoffs.  Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers-Denver Broncos game on CBS drew 42.4 million viewers ranking as the most-watched show since Super Bowl XLV and the most-watched Wild Card game ever (topping last year’s Packers-Eagles game on FOX, 39.3 million).

The Wild Card games averaged 31 million viewers to rank as the second most-watched Wild Card Weekend ever (32.3 million in 2010). The four games were also the four most-watched shows on television last week (chart below).

Saturday night’s Detroit Lions-New Orleans Saints game on NBC drew 31.8 million viewers, marking  the third consecutive year with two Wild Card games averaging more than 30.0 million viewers.

Most-Watched Shows on Television, Week of Jan. 2-8, 2012

Program                                                                       Average Viewers
1. CBS Wild Card Playoff (Steelers-Broncos)      42.4 million
2. NBC Wild Card Playoff (Lions-Saints)             31.8 million
3. FOX Wild Card Playoff (Falcons-Giants)            27.7 million
4. NBC Wild Card Playoff (Bengals-Texans)    21.9 million
5. NCIS 19.8 million
6. 60 Minutes 18.1 million
7. 2012 Rose Bowl (Oregon-Wisconsin) 17.6 million
8. NCIS: Los Angeles 17.1 million
9. Modern Family 14.0 million
10. Two And A Half Men 13.9 million

 

Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company

# # #

Filed Under: CBS, NFL, Ratings

BCS National Championship: Cable’s Second Biggest Audience of All Time

January 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment

ESPN Wins the Night; Record College Football Audience for ESPN’s Digital Platforms

ESPN’s telecast of the Allstate Bowl Championship Series (BCS) National Championship – Alabama’s 21-0 shutout of LSU — posted a 16.2 fast national household coverage rating, according to Nielsen, representing an average of 16,072,000 households, the second highest of any program in the history in cable television (records go back to 1987).  The average of 24,214,000 viewers (P2+) was also second best in cable.  It also is ESPN’s second-highest rating of all time.

The only telecast in cable television history with a larger audience was last year’s BCS Championship on ESPN (17,718,000 homes and 27,316,000 people, based on a 17.8 rating), a 22-19 Auburn victory over Oregon decided by a field goal as time expired.

The game was the most-viewed telecast of the night in all of television, broadcast or cable, and powered ESPN to win the night among all networks.

The programming leading into and following the game performed well.  BCS Showcase (8:15-30 p.m. ET) earned a 7.7 metered market rating while BCS Post-Game (11:30 p.m. – midnight) drew a 7.9.

The game earned notable local ratings in a variety of markets:

  • Birmingham averaged a 61.2 rating, best of all metered markets, the second highest-rated bowl game on the ESPN networks in this market, behind only the 2011 National Championship (67.0; Auburn/Oregon)
  • New Orleans averaged a 53.3 overnight rating, second best in the nation and the highest-rated bowl game ever on the ESPN networks in this market
  • In addition, Austin (20.5), Greensboro (17.3), Greenville (24.5), Houston (16.2), Jacksonville (23.0), Memphis (25.8), Orlando (16.6), and Providence (9.6) delivered their highest-rating for a bowl game on the ESPN networks in the 2012 BCS National Championship.
  • Records date back to 2000

Record College Football Audience on ESPN’s Digital Platforms

Across all WatchESPN platforms – computer, smartphone, tablet, Xbox – the average minute audience for the BCS National Championship game totaled 261,000 people, up 40 percent over last year’s game, and a record for college football on ESPN’s digital platforms. More than 523,000 people watched the game on WatchESPN.com, generating 39.6 million minutes and an average minute audience of 227,000 people, which is up 20 percent compared to last year.

For the five BCS Bowl Games on WatchESPN.com, the average minute audience was 114,000 (up 27 percent over last year). For the entire bowl season, fans spent 6.9 million minutes per game on WatchESPN.com for an average time spent of 59 minutes per game, up 31 percent and 28 percent vs. 2011, respectively.  ESPN’s college football content on the mobile web reached 872,000 fans and more than three million page views during the bowl season, up 15 percent and 11 percent respectively, compared to a year ago.

ESPN & the BCS

ESPN’s second year of exclusive coverage of the five BCS matchups included all five games on ESPN, ESPN Radio and ESPN3 with ESPN Deportes and ESPN 3D also televising the Allstate BCS National Championship Game.

In addition, ESPN provided extensive on-site studio programming and reports across multiple shows and platforms, dedicated web pages for each bowl, re-airs of classic BCS games, international telecasts of all five games, encore presentations of the National Championship and more.  ESPN’s year-round commitment to college football includes more than 400 games, culminating with 33 bowls.

-30-

Filed Under: ESPN, NCAA Football, Ratings

Two-Part “Sunday Night Football” Viewership Release

January 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

PART I – COWBOYS-GIANTS IS MOST-WATCHED NBC PRIMETIME GAME EVER

27.6 Million Tops ALL Sunday Night Football Broadcasts Including Thursday NFL Kickoff Games

Most-Watched NFL Regular-Season Primetime Game in 15 Years

NEW YORK – January 4, 2012 – The Cowboys-Giants game on Sunday Night Football was the most-watched NFL regular-season primetime game ever on NBC and the most-watched NFL regular-season primetime game on any network in 15 years, according to official national data released today by The Nielsen Company.

Sunday’s game on NBC, in which the Giants defeated the Cowboys, 31-14, to win the NFC East, was seen by 27.6 million viewers, 42 percent higher than last year’s Week 17 game (Rams-Seahawks, 19.4 million), which was also a win-and-in game to determine the winner of the NFC West, and topped the previous NBC NFL primetime viewership record (27.5 million for Vikings-Saints NFL Thursday Kickoff on Sept. 9, 2010).

Other Ratings Notes:

· Most-watched regular-season primetime game on ANY network in 15 years (Packers-Cowboys, 31.5 million, Nov. 18, 1996 on ABC).

· Most-watched NFL primetime regular-season final game in 17 years (32.0 million for 49ers-Vikings, Dec. 26, 1994 on ABC).

MOST WATCHED NFL REGULAR-SEASON PRIMETIME GAMES ON NBC:

1. 27.6 million, Cowboys-Giants, 1/1/12 (Sunday Night’s Game)
2. 27.5 million, Vikings-Saints, 9/9/10 (2010 Thursday Night Opener)*
3. 27.2 million, Saints-Packers, 9/8/11 (2011 Thursday Night Opener)*
4. 25.8 million, Cowboys-Jets, 9/11/11 (2011 SNF Week 1)
5. 25.73 million, Eagles-Cowboys, 12/12/10 (2010 SNF Week 14)
6. 25.68 million, Vikings-Packers, 10/24/10, (Favre Return to Lambeau II)
7. 25.3 million, Cowboys-Redskins, 9/12/10 (2010 SNF: Week 1)
8. 24.8 million, Giants-Cowboys, 9/20/09 (Dallas Cowboys Stadium Debut)
9. 24.5 million, Giants-Cowboys, 12/11/11 (2011 SNF Week 14)
10. 24.2 million, Packers-Patriots, 12/19/10 (2010 SNF Week 15)

*Thursday NFL Kickoff Games

The Cowboys-Giants game received a 15.7 national household rating and a 25 share, up 39 percent from last year’s Week 17 game (Rams-Seahawks, 11.3/18), and making it the highest-rated Sunday Night Football broadcast ever (excluding Thursday NFL Kickoff games).

# # #

PART II – SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IS NO. 1 SHOW ON PRIMETIME TELEVISION

No. 3 Show Among Women 18-34 and 18-49

13 Games with More Than 20 Million Viewers (Most Ever)

Football Night in America Sets Records

Sunday Night Football finished the season as the No. 1 show in primetime (Viewers 2+, Household rating, all key adult and male demos, based on Nielsen live + same day data). This marks the second straight year, and the only two years on record (since the advent of people meters in 1987), that a sports series has been the most-watched show of the primetime TV season at the end of the NFL regular season.

SNF NO. 1 PRIMETIME PROGRAM FOR SEASON: For the primetime television season, Sunday Night Football ranked as the most-watched show (persons 2+) and the No. 1 program across the key demographics of Adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 as well as Men 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54.

  • Additionally, SNF is the No. 3 show among Women 18-34 behind only Modern Family and New Girl, and, remarkably, No. 3 among Women 18-49 behind only Two and a Half Men and Modern Family.

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SETS RECORD IN COVETED ADULT DEMO: Sunday Night Football averaged an 8.4 rating for its season in the coveted Adult 18-49 advertiser demographic, the best in the six-year history of SNF and tying the 1999 season of Monday Night Footballon ABC as the best NFL primetime Adult 18-49 average since 1997 (9.1 on ABC).

Adult 18-49 SNF Season Averages vs. Prior Years:
2011 – 8.4
2010 – 8.3 (up one percent)
2009 – 7.5 (up 12 percent)
2008 – 6.4 (up 31 percent)
2007 – 6.4 (up 31 percent)
2006 – 6.8 (up 24 percent)

SNF FINAL AVERAGE VIEWERSHIP: Sunday Night Football averaged 21.5 million viewers for the 2011 season, the second-most in its six-year history, just one percent below last year’s high of 21.8 million, 2.1 million more than 2009 (19.4 million) and 4.9 million more than 2008 (16.6 million).

  • 21.5 million is the second-most for the NFL’s premier primetime package (SNF on NBC 2006-2010, MNF on ABC 1970-2005) since 1996 (22.7 million).
  • The final average household rating of 12.9/20 is the second-best ever for Sunday Night Football, one percent below last year’s high of 13.0/21, 10-percent higher than 2009’s 11.7/19 and 26 percent ahead of 2008 (10.2/16).

Viewers 2+ HH rtg.

1. 2010, 21.8 million, 13.0/21
2. 2011, 21.5 million, 12.9/20
2. 2009, 19.4 million, 11.7/19
3. 2006, 17.5 million, 11.0/18
4. 2008, 16.6 million, 10.2/16
5. 2007, 16.0 million, 10.0/16

NBC PRIMETIME GAMES WITH 20 MILLION-OR-MORE VIEWERS: This season, 13 NBC primetime NFL games surpassed 20 million viewers, the most in NBC’s six-year Sunday Night Football history. Last year there were 11 games to surpass 20 million. In 2009, there were seven games that surpassed 20 million viewers, and from 2006-2008 a total of six games reached that milestone.

SNF games with more than 20 million viewers per season:

2011 – 13
2010 – 11
2009 – 7
2008 – 2
2007 – 1
2006 – 3

FOOTBALL NIGHT DRAWS RECORD AUDIENCE: The critically acclaimed Football Night in America, had its best season ever, drawing a record 8.9 million viewers (7:30-8:15 p.m. ET).

Football Night Season Averages vs. Prior Years
2011 – 8.9 million viewers
2010 – 8.3 million viewers (up seven percent)
2009 – 7.4 million viewers (up 20 percent)
2008 – 6.3 million viewers (up 41 percent)
2007 – 6.2 million viewers (up 44 percent)
2006 – 6.5 million viewers (up 37 percent)

MORE ARE WATCHING NFL FOOTBALL ON SUNDAY NIGHTS: In the six years since the shift of the NFL’s premier primetime package from Monday to Sunday nights, Sunday Night Football is averaging 5.3 million more viewers (21.5 million) than the last season of Monday Night Football on ABC in 2005 (16.2 million).

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL TOP 20 METERED MARKETS – FULL 2011 SEASON:

1. New Orleans, 25.4/34
2. Milwaukee, 20.4/30
3. Pittsburgh, 20.0/30
4. Baltimore, 19.5/30
5. Las Vegas, 19.1/29
6. Dallas, 18.7/29
7. Richmond, 17.9/27
8. Norfolk, 17.5/26
9. Indianapolis, 17.2/27
10. Albuquerque, 16.4/25
11. San Diego, 16.0/27
12. Washington D.C., 15.8/27
T13. Nashville, 15.5/22
T13. Kansas City, 15.5/24
T15. Atlanta, 15.3/24
T15. Austin, 15.3/25
T15. Memphis, 15.3/22
18. San Antonio, 15.0/22
19. Philadelphia, 14.8/23
20. Sacramento, 14.7/25

Follow NBC Sports PR on Twitter @NBCSportsPR
Follow “Sunday Night Football” on Twitter @SNFonNBC
Follow NBC SportsTalk on Twitter @NBCSportsTalk
Become a fan of “Sunday Night Football” on Facebook at: FACEBOOK.COM/SNFONNBC

–NBC SPORTS GROUP–

Filed Under: NBC, NFL, Ratings

Most-Watched Year Ever For Golf Channel

January 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Ratings Milestones Reached Across All Dayparts

NBCU Merger Provides Broad Exposure

ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 4, 2012) – 2011 was the most-watched year in Golf Channel history. The network’s first year as part of the NBC Sports Group finished on Dec. 31 as the most-watched year in the network’s 17-year history, according to data released by Nielsen Research.

Viewership in 2011 was up almost 30 percent from 2010 and topped 2009 by 3 percent to become Golf Channel’s most-watched year ever. Highlights include PGA TOUR viewership up 23 percent, Presidents Cup coverage from Australia providing the most-watched day and week in Golf Channel history, viewership for Golf Central up 47 percent; and in June, the premiere of Feherty became the network’s most-viewed season premiere ever. These milestones provided the network with great momentum heading into the 2012 golf season, which kicks off Friday with primetime coverage in Hawaii of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions from the picturesque Plantation Course in Kapalua, Maui.

Total-day viewership growth in 2011 was spiked by milestones across all Golf Channel programming categories – an achievement even more impressive considering Tiger Woods appeared in only 10 events on Golf Channel (and did not win until the last event of his year). Comparatively, in 2009 when the previous record was established, Woods played 17 events and won nine times. Furthermore, 2011 viewership was more than 15 percent better than audience levels in 2007 and 2008.

The January 28, 2011, Comcast merger with NBCUniversal, which provided Golf Channel with broad-based promotion across a vast network of various NBCU platforms, and the addition of more original shows – including the critically acclaimed Feherty and the network’s first-ever live morning show, Morning Drive – engaged viewers who watched the network more often than ever before.

“While we toast this banner year and are extremely grateful to our family of loyal viewers, we remain committed to continued growth and excited about the prospects for the future,” said Golf Channel President Mike McCarley. “This viewership record is a testament to the vitality of golf, strengthened partnerships with the game’s governing bodies and the power of NBCUniversal cross-promotion. Our aim is to give viewers more reasons to watch, and in 2011 they responded in record numbers. While we’re pleased by the unprecedented viewership, we’re even more excited about the future and know that the best is yet to come.”

Best Beginning to End: The year began and finished with record-setting quarters and Golf Channel was one of only four sports networks to show growth (up 14 percent) in the third quarter of the year.

Tournaments Set the Pace: Golf Channel televises more tournament golf than all other networks combined and 2011 was a banner year for all the major tours with ratings up year over year. Golf Channel also shone its brightest during golf’s biggest events:

· PGA TOUR FedExCup season up 23 percent.
· LPGA Tour up 30 percent.
· European Tour up 23 percent.
· Champions Tour up 16 percent and the most-watched season ever on Golf Channel.
· The Presidents Cup made the third week in November the highest-rated week in Golf Channel history and Friday, Nov. 18, the highest-rated day in Golf Channel history.

Golf Channel Had it Covered: When it came to covering the world of golf, Golf Channel led the way. Ratings for its signature news franchise, Golf Central, were up 47 percent over last year and the newest addition to its morning schedule, Morning Drive, was up 68 percent versus its comparable time slot in 2010. At golf’s biggest events, Golf Channel’s Live From news coverage was unmatched and included the following highlights:

· Most-watched PGA Championship Week ever on Golf Channel.
· Masters Week was the fourth most-watched week in Golf Channel history.
· U.S. Open Week achieved the highest weekend ratings from an East Coast U.S. Open.

Golf Channel Originals and Instruction Kept Viewers Engaged: Significant investments to provide viewers more than tournament action paid off. Golf Channel original series and specials – up 20 percent as a genre over 2010 – kept fans tuning in. Instructional programming followed suit and was up 25 percent. Highlights include:

· Feherty set record as most-viewed series premiere in Golf Channel history.
· Ratings for The Haney Project season three with Rush Limbaugh were up 36 percent from previous season.
· Pipe Dream joined The Haney Project to lift Tuesday nights more than 50 percent.
· Big Break Ireland started with the highest-rated premiere for any Big Break series since fall of 2009, and finished with the highest-rated season finale of all originals in 2011.

Golf Channel in 2011 averaged 90,000 viewers watching at any given moment during a 24-hour period.

-NBC Sports Group-

Filed Under: Golf Channel, Ratings

3.74 Million Viewers Watch 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic

January 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

2012 Winter Classic up two percent vs. last afternoon Winter Classic

Five of six most-watched NHL regular-season games in past 37 years are Winter Classics

NEW YORK — January 3, 2012 – The NHL Winter Classic continues to demonstrate its success as it has now produced five of the six most-watched NHL regular-season games in the past 37 years. Yesterday’s 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers from Citizen’s Bank Park averaged 3.74 million viewers, according to fast national data provided by Nielsen Media Research, making it the fifth-most watched regular-season NHL game since 1975.

Viewership for the game was up two percent compared to the last NHL Winter Classic played in the afternoon, the 2010 contest played on New Year’s Day at Fenway Park between the Boston Bruins and Flyers, which was watched by 3.68 million.

This year’s game was played on Monday, Jan. 2 due to New Year’s Day falling on a Sunday. The previous four Winter Classics were all played on Jan. 1. Yesterday’s game also had a delayed start time of 3 p.m. ET, which was announced the day before the game, due to weather conditions related to player safety. The start time had originally been scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.

Last year’s Winter Classic, broadcast on New Year’s Day in primetime from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh and featuring two of the NHL’s most popular players in Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals), was the most-watched NHL regular-season game in 36 years with 4.5 million viewers.

MOST-WATCHED NHL REGULAR-SEASON GAMES SINCE 1975

4.5 million Jan. 1, 2011 NBC Capitals-Penguins

4.4 million Jan. 1, 2009 NBC Red Wings-Blackhawks

3.8 million Jan. 27, 1996 FOX Six-game regional coverage

3.8 million Jan. 1, 2008 NBC Penguins-Sabres

3.74 million Jan. 2, 2012 NBC Rangers-Flyers

3.68 million Jan. 1, 2010 NBC Flyers-Bruins

Yesterday’s game produced a 2.1 rating and 4 share equaling the last Winter Classic played during the afternoon (2010 – 2.1/4). Last year’s primetime game generated a 2.3 rating and 4 share. The rating for this year’s contest built every half hour from 5 pm ET until the conclusion of the game, peaking at a 2.7 for the final segment (6-6:08 p.m. ET).

Philadelphia led all markets with an 11.9/21 rating, almost doubling the 6.0/11 rating the market produced for the 2010 game when the Flyers were the visitors against the Bruins at Fenway Park.

New York posted a 4.3/9 rating, up 65 percent versus the 2.6/6 average for the market for the four previous Winter Classics, none of which involved a New York team.

TOP LOCAL MARKETS FOR 2012 BRIDGESTONE NHL WINTER CLASSIC

1. Philadelphia, 11.9/21

2. Buffalo, 7.8/13

3. Boston, 5.1/9

4. Pittsburgh, 4.4/8

T5. New York, 4.3/9

T5. Washington D.C., 4.3/8

7. Providence, 3.8/7

8. Richmond, 3.1/5

9. Baltimore, 2.9/5

10. Minneapolis, 2.7/6

–NBC Sports Group–

Filed Under: NBC, NHL, Ratings

NFL Games Top Local Ratings 91 Percent Of Time In 2011

January 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Cowboys-Giants Most-Watched NBC Primetime Game Ever

NFL Games Top Ratings In All 30 Markets

 

NFL games topped ratings in all 30 local markets in Week 17 for the fourth time in five years as teams made their final pushes for the Playoffs.  For the season, NFL games were the highest rated program locally 91 percent of the time.

The Cowboys-Giants Sunday night game was the most-watched NBC primetime game ever and the most-watched show among all programs last week with 27.6 million viewers.

Following is the list of the NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Dec. 26, 2011 – Jan 1, 2012:

Week of 12/26/11-1/1/12  

 

HH

 

HH

 

RTG
Market Game

Date

RTG

SHR

Rank
New Orleans Falcons at Saints*

12/26/11

57.4

78

1
Milwaukee Lions at Packers

1/1/12

49.5

75

1
Pittsburgh Steelers at Browns

1/1/12

48.1

72

1
Cincinnati Ravens at Bengals

1/1/12

40.9

63

1
Denver Chiefs and Broncos

1/1/12

39.3

72

1
Baltimore Ravens at Bengals

1/1/12

39.1

60

1
Kansas City Chiefs and Broncos

1/1/12

38.9

60

1
Dallas Cowboys at Giants

1/1/12

37.1

55

1
Boston Bills at Patriots

1/1/12

35.3

63

1
Cleveland Steelers at Browns

1/1/12

33.6

55

1
Detroit Lions at Packers

1/1/12

31.5

55

1
Minneapolis Bears at Vikings

1/1/12

29.5

57

1
Buffalo Bills at Patriots

1/1/12

28.3

47

1
Nashville Titans at Texans

1/1/12

27.8

46

1
Atlanta Falcons at Saints*

12/26/11

27.6

44

1
Indianapolis Colts at Jaguars

1/1/12

27.0

46

1
New York Cowboys at Giants

1/1/12

25.3

38

1
San Diego Chargers at Raiders

1/1/12

25.1

56

1
Charlotte Panthers at Saints

1/1/12

24.4

44

1
Houston Titans at Texans

1/1/12

23.9

47

1
Philadelphia Redskins at Eagles

1/1/12

23.0

41

1
Jacksonville Chiefs and Broncos

1/1/12

22.7

36

1
Chicago Bears at Vikings

1/1/12

22.3

44

1
Washington, DC Cowboys at Giants

1/1/12

22.2

37

1
Seattle Seahawks at Cardinals

1/1/12

21.3

43

1
Phoenix Seahawks at Cardinals

1/1/12

21.0

42

1
San Fran-Oakland 49ers at Rams

1/1/12

20.3

51

1
Miami Jets at Dolphins

1/1/12

17.5

40

1
St. Louis 49ers at Rams

1/1/12

16.1

32

1
Tampa Cowboys at Giants

1/1/12

13.8

24

1

* Local affiliate & ESPN combined

Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company

NFL 2011 TV RECAP

 MORE THAN 200 MILLION FANS TUNE IN 

23 OF 25 MOST-WATCHED SHOWS THIS FALL 

RECORD 37 SHOWS EARN MORE THAN 20 MILLION VIEWERS 

NFL GAME VIEWERSHIP MORE THAN DOUBLES BROADCAST PRIMETIME 

RECORD SEASON FOR NFL NETWORK & NFL DIGITAL PROPERTIES

 

Football fans tuned into the 2011 NFL season in big numbers.  According to The Nielsen Company, the 2011 regular season reached more than 200 million unique viewers.

NFL games were watched by an average of 17.5 million viewers –the NFL’s second highest viewership average since 1989 (17.9 million in 2010), before the explosion of viewer choice on television and online.

NFL games accounted for 23 of the 25 most-watched TV shows among all programming and the 16 most-watched shows on cable last fall. In addition, a record 37 NFL game telecasts averaged at least 20 million viewers – topping the previous mark set last year (35) and up from 16 in 2006.

NFL games continue to more than double broadcast primetime viewership. NFL games on CBS, FOX and NBC averaged 19.8 million viewers – 144 percent higher than the average primetime viewership among the four major over-the-air networks (8.1 million average on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC).  That NFL advantage is up from a 66 percent edge five years ago.

FOX matched 2010 for its most-watched season ever while NFL Network’s Thursday Night Footballposted its most-watched season ever. NBC Sunday Night Football was the most-watched show in primetime for the second consecutive fall TV season.  ESPN’s Monday Night Football continued as cable’s most-watched program for the sixth season in a row. CBS had its second most-watched season since acquiring the AFC package.

For the season, NFL games were the highest rated program locally 91 percent of the time – the second consecutive season topping 90 percent.

More 2011 NFL TV highlights (through the 2011 NFL regular season ending on 1/1/12):

  • ·NBC Sunday Night Football ranked as the most-watched primetime program for the second consecutive fall season averaging 21.5 million viewers. The Week 17 SNF game (Cowboys-Giants) was the most-watched Sunday primetime game in NFL regular-season history with an average of 27.6 million viewers.
  • FOX’s Sunday National telecast was the most-watched show among all programs with an average of 25.8 million viewers.
  • CBS’ Sunday National telecast was the second-most-watched program among all shows with an average of 24.3 million viewers. 
  • ESPN’s Monday Night Football was the most-watched series on cable for the sixth straight yearwith an average of 13.3 million viewers.
  • NFL Network wrapped up its sixth season of Thursday Night Football with a record average of 6.2 million cable viewers.
  • Thanksgiving weekend was the most-watched NFL regular-season weekend in 18 years and featured a pair of Thanksgiving afternoon games (CBS’ Miami at Dallas and FOX’s Green Bay at Detroit) topping 30 million average viewers – the first time both broadcast networks topped the 30-million mark on Thanksgiving Day.  The Thanksgiving night Thursday Night Football game on NFL Network (San Francisco at Baltimore) was the most-watched cable program in Thanksgiving historyand the most watched game in the eight-year history of NFLN with an average of 10.7 million viewers.
  •  NFL Network’s average weekday primetime viewership jumped 18 percent over last year while Sunday shows – featuring the NFL GameDay lineup – were up 15 percent.
  • Fans visited the NFL’s digital media platforms including NFL.com, NFL Mobile Only From Verizon and other NFL mobile products in record numbers in 2011. Many viewed the digital content via multiple access points resulting in arecord total of 71 million fans per month – up 27 percent from last year. In addition, fans accessed 70 percent more video than in 2010 and accounted for a 67 percent jump in page views.

 

 

NFL VS. PRIMETIME VIEWERSHIP ON BROADCAST TV

 

 

NFL on

Broadcast

NFL
 

Broadcast

Primetime

% Advantage
2002 Avg. Viewers

15.8 million

10.3 million

52%
2003 Avg. Viewers

15.5 million

9.9 million

56%
2004 Avg. Viewers

15.4 million

9.8 million

57%
2005 Avg. Viewers

15.6 million

9.7 million

61%
2006 Avg. Viewers

16.3 million

9.8 million

66%
2007 Avg. Viewers

16.6 million

8.7 million

91%
2008 Avg. Viewers

16.6 million

8.8 million

89%
2009 Avg. Viewers

18.4 million

8.5 million

116%
2010 Avg. Viewers

20.0 million

8.2 million

144%
2011 Avg. Viewers

19.8 million

8.1 million

144%
Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company. NFL regular season on Broadcast television
(CBS, FOX & NBC…ABC prior to 2006).  Broadcast primetime on BIG 4 networks (ABC, CBS, NBC & FOX) all programs, NFL regular season dates used.

 

 

 

Following are the 25 most-watched shows of the fall TV season:

 

Program (Game) Viewers
1. CBS Thanksgiving (Dolphins-Cowboys), 11/24 31.0 million
3. FOX Thanksgiving (Packers-Lions), 11/6 30.2 million
3. FOX Sunday National (mostly Packers-Giants), 12/4 29.8 million
3. CBS Sunday National (mostly Patriots-Broncos), 12/18 28.2 million
5. CBS’ Two and a Half Men (Season Premiere), 9/19 28.7 million
6. FOX Sunday National (mostly Cowboys-Patriots), 10/16 28.4 million
7. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-Patriots), 11/6 28.2 million
8. NBC Sunday Night Football (Cowboys-Giants), 1/1/12 27.6 million
9. NBC Thursday Night Kickoff Game (Saints-Packers), 9/8 27.1 million
10. CBS Sunday National (mostly Chiefs-Broncos), 1/1/12 27.0 million
11. CBS Sunday National (mostly Patriots-Eagles), 11/27 26.2 million
12. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-49ers), 11/13 25.9 million
13. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-Redskins), 9/11 25.8 million
14. NBC Sunday Night Football (Cowboys-Jets), 9/11 25.8 million
15. FOX World Series Game 7 (Rangers-Cardinals), 10/28 25.4 million
16. CBS Sunday National (mostly Patriots-Steelers), 10/30 24.6 million
17. NBC Sunday Night Football (Giants-Cowboys), 12/11 24.5 million
18. FOX Sunday National (mostly Packers-Vikings), 10/23 24.3 million
19. NBC Sunday Night Football (Bears-Packers), 12/25 24.0 million
20. FOX Sunday National (mostly Packers-Bears), 9/25 24.0 million
21. NBC Sunday Night Football (Eagles-Falcons), 9/18 23.4 million
21. FOX Sunday Single (mostly Redskins-Giants), 12/18 23.4 million
23. FOX Sunday Single (mostly Lions-Cowboys), 10/2 23.3 million
24. CBS Sunday National (mostly Packers-Broncos), 10/2 23.0 million
25. NBC Sunday Night Football (Cowboys-Eagles), 10/30 23.0 million

 

Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company, 9/4/11 – 1/1/12

Following are the 15 most-watched basic cable shows of the fall TV season:

 

Program, Date Viewers
1. ESPN Monday Night Football (Redskins-Cowboys), 9/26

17.1 million
2. ESPN Monday Night Football (Bears-Eagles), 11/7

16.8 million
3. ESPN Monday Night Football (Steelers-49ers), 12/19

16.7 million
4. ESPN Monday Night Football (Bears-Lions), 10/10

16.4 million
5. ESPN Monday Night Football (Falcons-Saints), 12/26

15.6 million
6. ESPN Monday Night Football (Patriots-Dolphins), 9/12

14.6 million
7. ESPN Monday Night Football (Giants-Saints), 11/28

14.4 million
8. ESPN Monday Night Football (Vikings-Packers), 11/14

14.2 million
9. ESPN Monday Night Football (Chiefs-Patriots), 11/21

12.3 million
10. ESPN Monday Night Football (Dolphins-Jets), 10/17

12.1 million
11. ESPN Monday Night Football (Chargers-Chiefs), 10/31

12.0 million
12. ESPN Monday Night Football (Rams-Giants), 9/19

11.9 million
13. ESPN Monday Night Football (Raiders-Broncos), 9/12

11.1 million
14. ESPN Monday Night Football (Colts-Bucs), 10/3

10.8 million
15. NFLN Thursday Night Football (49ers-Ravens), 11/24

10.7 million

Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company, 9/4/11 – 1/1/12

# # #

 

Filed Under: NFL, Ratings

NFL Games Top Ratings In 29 Markets

December 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Bears-Packers on NBC Sunday Night Football Most-Watched Show of Week

The Bears-Packers Sunday night game on NBC was the most-watched show among all programs last week with 24.0 million viewers.

Locally, NFL games top the ratings in NFL markets 90 percent of the time through 16 weeks.  Following is the list of the 29 NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Dec. 19-25:

 

Week of 12/19-12/25  

 

HH

 

HH

 

RTG
Market Game

Date

RTG

SHR

Rank
Milwaukee Bears at Packers

12/25/11

46.5

73

1
Pittsburgh Steelers at 49ers*

12/19/11

44.2

67

1
Baltimore Browns at Ravens

12/24/11

31.9

61

1
Kansas City Raiders at Chiefs

12/24/11

31.9

60

1
Boston Dolphins at Patriots

12/24/11

30.3

61

1
Chicago Bears at Packers

12/25/11

28.7

53

1
San Fran-Oakland Steelers at 49ers*

12/19/11

28.2

50

1
Atlanta Falcons at Saints

12/26/11

27.6

44

1
Denver Broncos at Bills

12/24/11

26.8

59

1
Dallas Eagles at Cowboys

12/24/11

25.6

52

1
Seattle 49ers at Seahawks

12/24/11

24.6

55

1
Detroit Chargers at Lions

12/24/11

24.4

52

1
Nashville Jaguars at Titans

12/24/11

23.5

44

1
New Orleans Steelers at 49ers

12/19/11

23.3

32

1
Indianapolis Texans at Colts**

12/22/11

22.9

36

1
Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys

12/24/11

22.7

47

1
Houston Texans at Colts**

12/22/11

22.4

36

1
Minneapolis Vikings at Redskins

12/24/11

22.4

59

1
San Diego Chargers at Lions

12/24/11

21.8

44

1
New York Giants at Jets

12/24/11

21.6

47

1
Charlotte Buccaneers at Panthers

12/24/11

19.2

41

1
Cleveland Browns at Ravens

12/24/11

19.0

40

1
Phoenix Cardinals at Bengals

12/24/11

15.8

35

1
Washington, DC Vikings at Redskins

12/24/11

15.0

33

1
St. Louis Rams at Steelers

12/24/11

13.6

29

1
Buffalo Bears at Packers

12/25/11

13.6

24

1
Jacksonville Bears at Packers

12/25/11

13.3

23

1
Tampa Buccaneers at Panthers

12/24/11

13.2

31

1
Cincinnati Giants at Jets

12/24/11

13.0

28

1

* Local affiliate & ESPN combined

** Local affiliate & NFL Network combined

Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company

Filed Under: NFL, Ratings
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