Once the lone exception to the NFL’s slow start, FOX posted its third straight decline on Sunday.
The Week 5 NFL singleheader window, featuring Falcons/Broncos in 43% of markets or Eagles/Lions in 37%, earned a 9.4 final rating and 16.5 million viewers on FOX Sunday afternoon — down 14% in ratings and 9% in viewership from last year (10.9, 18.0M) and down 18% and 15%, respectively, from 2014 (11.5, 19.3M).
The telecast, which included just four games, ranks as the least-watched singleheader in Week 5 of the season since 2011 (16.0M) and the lowest rated since at least 2008.
Including the previous week’s doubleheader, FOX has now posted declines for three straight NFL telecasts. The network had opened the season with increases for its first four windows, and through week three was the only NFL broadcaster to avoid a decline.
For the week, the singleheader ranked second in ratings and third in viewership among NFL telecasts. It trailed NBC’s Sunday Night Football in the latter measure (16.6) and the NFL national window on CBS in both (12.1, 21.3M).
(Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 10/11)
