Week 6 Wrap: “SNF” Thrives Despite NLCS Competition

NBC scored a double-digit increase for Sunday’s blowout between the Packers and Texans.

The Week 6 Packers/Texans “Sunday Night Football” game drew an 11.8 final rating and 19.922 million viewers on NBC, up 17% in ratings and 20% in viewership from Vikings/Bears last year (10.1, 16.568M), and up 1% and 4%, respectively, from Colts/Washington in 2010 (11.7, 19.115M).

The double-digit increase came despite competition from Game 1 of the Cardinals/Giants National League Championship Series on FOX (4.1, 6.8M). Last year, LCS coverage on FOX was rained out.

Sunday’s game ranks as the top primetime NFL telecast to air opposite the MLB LCS since 1996, when ABC earned 26.5 million viewers for 49ers/Packers opposite Braves/Cardinals Game 5 on FOX.

Among adults 18-49, Sunday’s game earned a 7.7 rating — up 17% from last year (6.6).

So far this season, NBC has averaged a 13.4 rating and 22.1 million viewers for NFL coverage (seven games) — up a tick in ratings but down 1% in viewership from last year (13.3, 22.2M), and up 4% and 3%, respectively, from 2010 (12.9, 21.4M).

(Sunday’s numbers and six-week average from NBC Universal Media Village)