Week 2 Wrap: NFL Network Earns Fourth-Best Audience For Bears/Packers

Posted by | 09/18/2012 at 6:19 pm

The expanded “Thursday Night Football” schedule started on a strong note.

The Week 2 Bears/Packers “Thursday Night Football” game earned a 5.3 U.S. rating and 8.559 million viewers on NFL Network, marking the fourth-largest audience ever for live NFL coverage on the network.

The only NFL Network games to earn more viewers were Packers/Cowboys in 2007 (10.054M), Cowboys/Saints in 2009 (10.497M), and 49ers/Ravens last year (10.681M).

Compared to last year’s NFL Network season opener — Raiders/Chargers in Week 10 of the season (3.3, 5.277M) — ratings and viewership increased by 61% and 62%, respectively.

Overall, Thursday’s game ranks as the highest rated and most-viewed NFL season opener ever on NFL Network.

Most-Viewed NFL Games on NFL Network
Since network began airing games in the 2006-07 season

#
Date
Away
 Home
Net
Rating
Viewers (000)
1
 Thu., 11/24/11 Niners Ravens NFL Network
5.3
10,681
2
 Sat., 12/19/09 Cowboys Saints NFL Network
5.7
10,497
3
 Thu., 11/29/07 Packers Cowboys NFL Network
5.4
10,054
4 Thu., 9/13/12 Bears Packers NFL Network
5.3
8,559
5
 Sat., 12/25/10 Cowboys Cardinals NFL Network
3.8
7,843

(Thursday’s numbers from Bloomberg, Media Life Magazine)

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