The lowest rated game of the Divisional Round still put up strong numbers on FOX last Saturday.
Saturday’s Cardinals/Saints matchup drew a 16.1/32 final rating and 27.9 million viewers on FOX, up 5% in ratings and 9% in viewers from Ravens/Titans on CBS last year (15.4/29, 25.5 mil), but down 5% and 1%, respectively, from Seahawks/Packers on FOX in ’08 (17.0/34, 28.2 mil).
Of the 12 early Saturday Divisional Round games since ’99, Cardinals/Saints ranks as the 5th lowest rated.
Compared to the Jets/Bengals game in the same window the previous week, Cardinals/Saints was up 6% and 12%, respectively.
Through three games, FOX is averaging a 19.2/36 rating and 33.3 million viewers for coverage of the NFL playoffs — making this the network’s highest rated NFL postseason since ’04, and its most-viewed ever.
Ratings/viewership for early Saturday Divisional Round game since ’99
| Year | Date | Featured game | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2010
|
Sat., 1/16/10 | Cardinals/Saints | FOX |
16.1/32
|
27,900
|
| 2009 | Sat., 1/10/09 | Ravens/Titans | CBS |
15.4/29
|
25,453
|
| 2008 | Sat., 1/12/08 | Seahawks/Packers | FOX |
17.0/34
|
28,200
|
| 2007 | Sat., 1/13/07 | Colts/Ravens | CBS |
16.4/32
|
26,198
|
| 2006 | Sat., 1/14/06 | Washington/Seahawks | FOX |
15.8/31
|
24,269
|
| 2005 | Sat., 1/15/05 | Jets/Steelers | CBS |
18.2/36
|
29,401
|
| 2004 | Sat., 1/10/04 | Panthers/Rams | FOX |
16.6/32
|
25,362
|
| 2003 | Sat., 1/11/03 | Steelers/Titans | CBS |
18.1/35
|
28,514
|
| 2002 | Sat., 1/19/02 | Eagles/Bears | FOX |
17.1/32
|
26,610
|
| 2001 | Sat., 1/6/01 | Saints/Vikings | FOX |
14.1/35
|
—
|
| 2000 | Sat., 1/15/00 | Dolphins/Jaguars | CBS |
13.8/34
|
—
|
| 1999 | Sat., 1/9/99 | 49ers/Falcons | FOX |
18.2/42
|
—
|
