An NFC Championship game ending in overtime on a game winning field goal will always be a big draw. Add in the Packers, Lambeau Field, and a team from the #1 television market in the country, and the game can approach 50 million viewers.
FOX drew 48.6 million viewers for the Giants overtime victory over the Packers last night, up 4% over the Patriots/Colts AFC Championship game in the same timeslot last year. The 48.6 million viewers is the most for a non-Super Bowl television program since the series finale of Friends in 2004.
The game drew a 31.7/46 overnight rating in prime time, with an 18.6 rating among adults 18-49. To put that in perspective, the next closest networks averaged a 5.2 household rating (CBS) and a 2.8 18-49 rating (ABC).
The 48.6 million viewers was 131% higher than the average for the other three networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and The CW) combined.
During the 9:30 PM half hour, FOX averaged 51.6 million viewers and a 20.0/40 rating among adults 18-49.
