NBC and the NFL Network approached record low numbers during Week 14.
Sunday Night Football, featuring Washington/Baltimore, drew an 8.1/13 final rating and 13.3 million viewers on NBC last week, flat in ratings and up 4% in viewership from the comparable game in ’07, but tied as the fifth-lowest rated SNF telecast on NBC.
So far this season, NBC is averaging a 9.9 rating for Sunday Night Football telecasts, on pace for an all-time broadcast record low for a prime time NFL series.
Meanwhile, ESPN drew solid numbers for Monday Night Football. Buccaneers/Panthers drew an 7.4 U.S. rating and 11.6 million viewers, up 30% and 37% respectively from a 5.7 with 8.4 million for last year’s Saints/Falcons telecast.
Through Monday, ESPN is averaging a 7.6 U.S. rating and 12 million viewers for MNF, up 3% and 6% respectively from a 7.4 with 11.3 million through the same point in ’07.
Finally, NFL Network drew its smallest audience ever for a live NFL telecast. Raiders/Chargers on December 4 drew 1.9 million viewers on NFL Network, down 14% from the fifth NFL telecast of last season, a Saturday night Bengals/49ers game.
The first five NFL telecasts on NFL Network this season have averaged 3.3 million viewers, down 31% from last year. Keep in mind last year’s numbers are boosted by the 10.1 million viewers who watched a Packers/Cowboys game early in the season.
Viewership for prime time Week 14 games.
1.9 mil: Raiders/Chargers (Thu., 12/4, NFL Network)
13.3 mil: Washington/Ravens (Sun., 12/7, NBC)
11.6 mil: Buccaneers/Panthers (Mon., 12/8, ESPN)
