NFL on NFL Network, CBS and NBC, Patriots at Giants, 8:00 PM Saturday — In a year of titanic NFL match-ups, this is the biggest. The New England Patriots will go for an undefeated regular season on three different networks, making Patriots/Giants not only a landmark NFL game, but a landmark television event.
It is not too often two of the Big 3 broadcast networks (CBS, ABC and NBC) broadcast the same event. Usually, this is only done in the aftermath of tragedy (i.e., the telethons that followed both 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina). Only once before in NFL history has one game aired on two networks — Super Bowl I, which aired on both CBS and NBC.
With the game airing on CBS, NBC and NFL Network, one can expect that what assuredly would have been a 20+ rating on one network will end up being split into smaller, less impressive numbers over the three networks. Still, the combined rating for this game should make it easily the most watched NFL regular season telecast in the past eleven years. With three networks worth of exposure, a shot at history, and the #7 and #1 media markets in the nation, this game is a once in a lifetime ratings event for the National Football League.
Prediction: 24.5 combined rating (14.8 on CBS, 8.3 on NBC, 1.4 on NFL Network).
