NFL Games Top Local Ratings in 23 Markets
NFL games rank as 13 of the 14 most-watched shows of the fall television season.
The FOX national telecast (mostly Packers-Vikings) was the most-watched program on television last week (Oct. 17-23) drawing an average of 24.3 million viewers. Through seven weeks of the season, NFL games have been the most-watched program of the week six times.
Following are the most-watched programs this fall:
| Program | Viewers |
| 1. CBS’ Two and a Half Men (Season Premiere), 9/19 | 28.7 million |
| 2. FOX Sunday National (mostly Cowboys-Patriots), 10/16 | 28.4 million |
| 3. NBC Thursday Night Kickoff Game (Saints-Packers), 9/8 | 27.1 million |
| 4. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-Redskins), 9/11 | 25.8 million |
| 5. NBC Sunday Night Football (Cowboys-Jets), 9/11 | 25.8 million |
| 6. FOX Sunday National (mostly Packers-Vikings), 10/23 | 24.3 million |
| 7. FOX Sunday National (mostly Packers-Bears), 9/25 | 24.0 million |
| 8. NBC Sunday Night Football (Eagles-Falcons),9/18 | 23.4 million |
| 9. FOX Sunday Single (mostly Lions-Cowboys), 10/2 | 23.3 million |
| 10. CBS Sunday National (mostly Packers-Broncos), 10/2 | 23.0 million |
| 11. CBS Sunday National (mostly Chargers-Patriots), 9/18 | 22.7 million |
| 12. CBS Sunday National (mostly Jets-Patriots), 10/9 | 22.6 million |
| 13. FOX Sunday Single (mostly Chi-N.O. & Dall.-S.F.), 9/18 | 22.5 million |
| 14. NBC Sunday Night Football (Packers-Falcons), 10/9 | 22.0 million |
| 15. CBS’ Two and a Half Men, 9/26 | 20.5 million |
Locally, NFL games topped the ratings in 23 NFL markets last week. NFL games compared favorably in local ratings to prime-time competition:
| Program |
# of NFL Markets Ranked #1 |
| NFL Football |
23 |
| NCIS |
2 |
| World Series games |
2 |
| 60 Minutes |
1 |
| Dancing With The Stars |
1 |
| Two and A Half Men |
1 |
Following is the list of the NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Oct. 17-23:
| Week of 10/17-10/23 |
|
HH |
HH |
RTG |
|
| Market | Game |
Date |
RTG |
SHR |
Rank |
| New Orleans | Colts at Saints | 10/23/11 | 50.9 | 66 |
1 |
| Milwaukee | Packers at Vikings | 10/23/11 | 48.9 | 71 |
1 |
| Pittsburgh | Steelers at Cardinals | 10/23/11 | 45.9 | 69 |
1 |
| Minneapolis | Packers at Vikings | 10/23/11 | 41.3 | 71 |
1 |
| Kansas City | Chiefs at Raiders | 10/23/11 | 31.5 | 52 |
1 |
| San Diego | Chargers at Jets | 10/23/11 | 30.0 | 58 |
1 |
| Denver | Broncos at Dolphins | 10/23/11 | 28.9 | 60 |
1 |
| Chicago | Bears at Buccaneers | 10/23/11 | 28.5 | 59 |
1 |
| Indianapolis | Colts at Saints | 10/23/11 | 27.1 | 40 |
1 |
| Cleveland | Seahawks at Browns | 10/23/11 | 26.4 | 55 |
1 |
| Nashville | Texans at Titans | 10/23/11 | 26.4 | 46 |
1 |
| Detroit | Falcons at Lions | 10/23/11 | 25.3 | 51 |
1 |
| Charlotte | Redskins at Panthers | 10/23/11 | 23.8 | 47 |
1 |
| Washington, DC | Redskins at Panthers | 10/23/11 | 22.8 | 51 |
1 |
| Atlanta | Falcons at Lions | 10/23/11 | 22.3 | 44 |
1 |
| Houston | Texans at Titans | 10/23/11 | 21.0 | 44 |
1 |
| Miami | Dolphins at Jets* | 10/17/11 | 19.6 | 28 |
1 |
| Phoenix | Steelers at Cardinals | 10/23/11 | 19.4 | 36 |
1 |
| Seattle | Seahawks at Browns | 10/23/11 | 19.0 | 46 |
1 |
| Tampa | Bears at Buccaneers | 10/23/11 | 18.4 | 41 |
1 |
| Jacksonville | Broncos at Dolphins | 10/23/11 | 16.5 | 29 |
1 |
| New York | Dolphins at Jets* | 10/17/11 | 14.4 | 22 |
1 |
| Philadelphia | Packers at Vikings | 10/23/11 | 14.2 | 26 |
1 |
* Local affiliate & ESPN combined
Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company
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