NBC's SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Rides Record Streak of Increased Viewership

For the first time in the 10-season history of NBC's Sunday Night Football, viewership and household rating have increased for each of the network's first five games, resulting in the best start in more than two Decades for the NFL's premier primetime package.

Through the opening four weeks of the NFL season (five telecasts), NBC's SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL is averaging 25.3 million viewers - the best viewership for the NFL's broadcast primetime package at this point in the season in 22 years (26.3 million in 1993), according to official national data released by The Nielsen Company. SNF is averaging a 14.7/25 household rating - the best start for the broadcast primetime package in 18 years (15.2/27 in 1997).

SNF viewership is up 9% from last year at this time (23.2 million viewers), while HH rating has increased 8% (13.6/23). SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL is also averaging a 9.4 rating in the Adult 18-49 demographic, up 6% from this point last season.

Football Night in America (7:30-8:15 p.m. ET), the most-watched weekly studio show in sports, is averaging 10.6 million viewers - the best start in the show's 10-season history and up 31% from last year at this point (8.1 million). In addition, the 8-8:30 p.m. ET portion of FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA (including pre-kick coverage), is averaging 14.7 million viewers, and a 5.3 rating among Adults 18-49, which would rank No. 4 among regularly-scheduled primetime shows in the demographic.

The New Orleans Saints' exciting 26-20 overtime victory over the Dallas Cowboys, highlighted by Drew Brees' 400th career touchdown pass, drew an average of 24.2 million viewers, up 5% from last year's Week 4 SNF matchup between the same teams (23.1 million), and ranks as the most-watched Week 4 primetime game since 1996 (25.1 million for the 3-0 Indianapolis Colts' four-point victory over the Dan Marino-led 3-0 Miami Dolphins on ABC). Brees' milestone TD pass was an 80-yard scoring strike to C.J. Spiller, which marked the quickest regular-season overtime victory in NFL history (13 seconds).

To post a comment, you must register and login.