Ratings and viewership for the NFL through Week 4 of the 2009 season.
Through Week 4 of the season, NFL telecasts have averaged 17.4 million viewers on FOX, NBC, CBS and ESPN, up 14% from 15.2 million through the same point last year, and “the highest audience number for the league in 20 years.” (Sports Business Daily)
NBC, FOX and ESPN have each had double-digit increases in ratings and viewership for NFL coverage. On CBS, ratings are down, but viewership is up slightly.
Through Week 4, the highest rated game of the season was Giants/Cowboys on NBC in Week 2 (15.1), while the most-viewed game was Washington/Giants on FOX in Week 1 (25.1 million).
Ratings/viewership for NFL telecasts through Week 4
All ratings are U.S. ratings
| Week # | FOX | CBS | NBC | ESPN | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | Viewers | Rating | Viewers | Rating | Viewers | Rating | Viewers | |
|
1
|
8.6
|
14.1 mil
|
7.1
|
11.4 mil
|
12.8
|
20.9 mil
|
8.9
|
14.0 mil
|
|
14.8
|
25.1 mil
|
12.6
|
21.1 mil
|
7.6
|
11.9 mil
|
|||
|
2
|
9.6
|
15.4 mil
|
8.5
|
14.0 mil
|
15.1
|
24.8 mil
|
9.4
|
14.7 mil
|
|
14.5
|
23.9 mil
|
|||||||
|
3
|
11.9
|
19.3 mil
|
6.8
|
11.1 mil
|
10.7
|
17.5 mil
|
9.9
|
15.7 mil
|
|
10.9
|
18.2 mil
|
|||||||
|
4
|
7.7
|
11.8 mil
|
10.1
|
15.8 mil
|
11.0
|
18.4 mil
|
13.2
|
21.8 mil
|
|
13.1
|
22.0 mil
|
|||||||
|
Avg.
|
11.0
|
17.9 mil
|
9.7
|
15.7 mil
|
12.4
|
20.8 mil
|
9.8
|
15.7 mil
|
Source: Sports Business Daily
