FOX is averaging more viewers for its coverage of regular season NFL games than it did for the entire 2009 World Series.
Through Week 8 of the season, FOX is averaging 19.5 million viewers for NFL coverage, up 20% from 15.9 million through the same point last year. The 19.5 million is the most for any NFL television partner, edging second-place NBC (19.1 mil).
Last Sunday’s national game, featuring Vikings/Packers, drew a 17.4 rating and 29.8 million viewers — up 26% and 34%, respectively, from Giants/Steelers in Week 8 last year, and the most-viewed regular season NFL telecast since ’07.
Earlier in the day, FOX drew a 9.7 rating and 15.8 million viewers for regional coverage featuring Giants/Eagles, up 10% and 15%, respectively, from an 8.8 and 13.8 million for comparable coverage last year.
FOX aired the two highest-rated, most-viewed NFL games of Week 8 — the second-straight week that FOX has aired the top two NFL telecasts.
Ratings/viewership for the NFL on FOX during the 2009 season
| Week | Date | Featured game | Net | Rating | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Sun., 9/13/09 | Cowboys/Buccaneers | FOX |
8.6
|
14.1 mil
|
| Washington/Giants | FOX |
14.8
|
25.1 mil
|
||
|
2
|
Sun., 9/20/09 | Saints/Eagles | FOX |
9.6
|
15.4 mil
|
|
3
|
Sun., 9/27/09 | Falcons/Patriots | FOX |
11.9
|
19.3 mil
|
|
4
|
Sun., 10/4/09 | Giants/Chiefs | FOX |
7.7
|
11.8 mil
|
| Cowboys/Broncos | FOX |
13.1
|
22.0 mil
|
||
|
5
|
Sun., 10/11/09 | Cowboys/Chiefs | FOX |
9.5
|
15.7 mil
|
|
6
|
Sun., 10/18/09 | Giants/Saints | FOX |
11.0
|
17.8 mil
|
| Sun., 10/25/09 | Vikings/Steelers | FOX |
11.4
|
18.5 mil
|
|
| Falcons/Cowboys | FOX |
16.8
|
28.4 mil
|
||
| Sun., 11/1/09 | Giants/Eagles | FOX |
9.7
|
15.8 mil
|
|
| Vikings/Packers | FOX |
17.4
|
29.8 mil
|
Source: Nielsen, Sports Business Daily
