FOX NFL National Telecast is Most Watched Show on TV
By: Caryn Robbins Dec. 27, 2012
An NFL game was the most-watched show on TV last week (Dec. 17-23) for the 16th time in 16 weeks of the NFL season with the FOX national telecast (mostly New York Giants-Baltimore Ravens) topping all sports and entertainment competition with 24.2 million viewers.
Locally, an NFL game was the highest-rated show in all 30 NFL markets last week, marking the second consecutive week and the record fifth time this season that NFL games topped local ratings in all NFL markets. Previously there were four "30 for 30" weeks in the full 2010 and 2011 seasons. NFL games have topped local ratings 93 percent of the time this season (up from 90 percent at this point in '11).
For the season, NFL games rank as 29 of the 30 most-watched TV shows since Labor Day. Following are the most-watched programs this fall:
| Program | Viewers |
| 1. FOX Thanksgiving Game (Redskins-Cowboys), 11/22 | 28.7 million |
| 2. NBC Sunday Night Football (Steelers-Broncos), 9/9 | 27.6 million |
| 3. CBS Thanksgiving Game (Texans-Lions), 11/22 | 27.3 million |
| 4. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-Cowboys), 10/28 | 26.9 million |
| 5. CBS Sunday National (mostly Steelers-Cowboys), 12/16 | 26.9 million |
| 6. FOX Sunday National (mostly 49ers-Packers), 9/9 | 26.4 million |
| 7. FOX Sunday National (mostly 49ers-Saints), 11/25 | 24.9 million |
| 8. CBS Sunday National (mostly Broncos-Patriots), 10/7 | 24.5 million |
| 9. FOX Sunday National (mostly Saints-Giants), 12/9 | 24.5 million |
| 10. FOX Sunday National (mostly Cowboys-Eagles), 11/11 | 24.3 million |
| 11. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-Ravens),12/23 | 24.2 million |
| 12. CBS Sunday National (mostly Steelers-Giants), 11/4 | 24.2 million |
| 13. CBS Sunday National (mostly Texans-Broncos), 9/23 | 24.0 million |
| 14. NBC Wed. Night Kickoff Game (Cowboys-Giants), 9/5 | 23.9 million |
| 15. CBS Sunday National (Indy-NE & SD-Den), 11/18 | 23.6 million |
| 16. NBC Sunday Night Football (49ers-Patriots), 12/16 | 23.2 million |
| 17. CBS Sunday National (mostly Steelers-Ravens), 12/2 | 23.0 million |
| 18. CBS Sunday National (mostly Jets-Patriots), 10/21 | 23.0 million |
| 19. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-49ers), 10/14 | 22.8 million |
| 20. NBC Sunday Night Football (Giants-Eagles), 9/30 | 22.8 million |
| 21. NBC Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, 11/22 | 22.4 million |
| 22. FOX Sunday National (mostly Saints-Packers), 9/30 | 22.3 million |
| 23. NBC Sunday Night Football (Cowboys-Falcons), 11/4 | 21.8 million |
| 24. FOX Sunday Single (mostly NYG-ATL & GB-Chi), 12/16 | 21.4 million |
| 25. NBC Sunday Night Football (Lions-Packers), 12/9 | 21.4 million |
| 26. NBC Sunday Night Football (Lions-49ers), 9/16 | 21.3 million |
| 27. NBC Sunday Night Football (Patriots-Ravens), 9/23 | 21.3 million |
| 28. FOX Sunday Single (mostly Minn-GB & TB-Den), 12/2 | 20.9 million |
| 29. NBC Sunday Night Football (Texans-Bears), 11/11 | 20.9 million |
| 30. NBC Sunday Night Football (Packers-Giants), 11/25 | 20.9 million |
Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company
Following is the list of all 30 NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Dec. 17-23:
| Week of 12/17-23 |
HH |
HH |
RTG |
||
| Market | Game |
Date |
RTG |
SHR |
Rank |
| Pittsburgh | Bengals at Steelers |
12/23/12 |
40.7 |
70 |
1 |
| Milwaukee | Titans at Packers |
12/23/12 |
40.4 |
71 |
1 |
| New Orleans | Saints at Cowboys |
12/23/12 |
40.1 |
66 |
1 |
| Baltimore | Giants at Ravens |
12/23/12 |
34.5 |
56 |
1 |
| Denver | Browns at Broncos |
12/23/12 |
34.4 |
66 |
1 |
| Seattle | 49ers at Seahawks |
12/23/12 |
34.2 |
64 |
1 |
| Minneapolis | Vikings at Texans |
12/23/12 |
33.4 |
69 |
1 |
| Cincinnati | Bengals at Steelers |
12/23/12 |
33.0 |
59 |
1 |
| Boston | Patriots at Jaguars |
12/23/12 |
32.5 |
63 |
1 |
| Indianapolis | Colts at Chiefs |
12/23/12 |
31.0 |
56 |
1 |
| Washington, DC | Redskins at Eagles |
12/23/12 |
28.0 |
57 |
1 |
| Chicago | Bears at Cardinals |
12/23/12 |
27.8 |
53 |
1 |
| Atlanta | Falcons at Lions |
12/22/12 |
27.7 |
47 |
1 |
| Dallas | Saints at Cowboys |
12/23/12 |
27.2 |
57 |
1 |
| Kansas City | Colts at Chiefs |
12/23/12 |
25.6 |
52 |
1 |
| Buffalo | Bills at Dolphins |
12/23/12 |
23.7 |
44 |
1 |
| San Fran-Oakland | 49ers at Seahawks |
12/23/12 |
23.7 |
48 |
1 |
| Philadelphia | Redskins at Eagles |
12/23/12 |
23.6 |
47 |
1 |
| Houston | Vikings at Texans |
12/23/12 |
23.3 |
49 |
1 |
| Cleveland | Browns at Broncos |
12/23/12 |
23.0 |
42 |
1 |
| Detroit | Falcons at Lions |
12/22/12 |
22.2 |
36 |
1 |
| Charlotte | Raiders at Panthers |
12/23/12 |
21.6 |
44 |
1 |
| St. Louis | Rams at Buccaneers |
12/23/12 |
19.7 |
41 |
1 |
| Phoenix | Bears at Cardinals |
12/23/12 |
19.6 |
41 |
1 |
| Jacksonville | Patriots at Jaguars |
12/23/12 |
17.2 |
34 |
1 |
| New York | Giants at Ravens |
12/23/12 |
16.9 |
31 |
1 |
| Nashville | Titans at Packers |
12/23/12 |
16.5 |
30 |
1 |
| San Diego | Chargers at Jets |
12/23/12 |
16.3 |
38 |
1 |
| Miami | Bills at Dolphins |
12/23/12 |
15.4 |
37 |
1 |
| Tampa | Bengals at Steelers |
12/23/12 |
13.4 |
30 |
1 |
Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company
Comments
Videos