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)
