Ratings and viewership increased substantially for the NFL preseason, which outdrew marquee sports properties such as college football’s bowl season and the NBA Playoffs.
11 nationally televised NFL preseason games averaged a 4.1 rating and 6.4 million viewers on NBC, CBS, FOX and ESPN, up 46% in ratings and 53% in viewers from a 2.8 and 4.4 million last year, and the most-viewed NFL preseason since 2003.
The preseason featured two milestones, as ESPN aired its most-viewed NFL preseason game ever (Vikings/Texans, 7.9 million) and NBC aired the most-viewed preseason game in three years (Bears/Broncos, 10.4 million).
The 6.4 million viewers for the NFL preseason tops the average viewership for last year’s college football bowl games (6.0 million — includes the BCS) and the 2009 NBA Playoffs (5.4 million — includes the NBA Finals). Additionally, the 6.4 million nearly matches the average viewership for the 2008 MLB Postseason (6.8 million — includes the World Series) and this season’s NASCAR races (7.2 million, includes Daytona 500; excludes rained out races).
Keep in mind that most of the NFL’s preseason games aired on broadcast television in prime time, while the vast majority of NBA, MLB and college football postseason games aired on cable.
Ratings/viewership for the 2009 NFL preseason.
Ratings and shares presented for games on broadcast; U.S. rating presented with cable rating in parentheses () for games on cable.
| Date | Game | Net | Rating | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., 8/9/09 | Bills/Titans | NBC | ||
| Thu., 8/13/09 | Cardinals/Steelers | ESPN | ||
| Mon., 8/17/09 | Panthers/Giants | ESPN | ||
| Thu., 8/20/09 | Eagles/Colts | FOX | ||
| Fri., 8/21/09 | Titans/Cowboys | FOX | ||
| Mon., 8/24/09 | Jets/Ravens | ESPN | ||
| Thu., 8/27/09 | Dolphins/Buccaneers | FOX | ||
| Fri., 8/28/09 | Patriots/Washington | CBS | ||
| Sat., 8/29/09 | Chargers/Falcons | CBS | ||
| Sun., 8/30/09 | Bears/Broncos | NBC | ||
| Mon., 8/31/09 | Vikings/Texans | ESPN |
