NFL Network not only hit a season-low for Thursday’s 49ers/Chargers game, but also suffered its first decline of the season.
The Chargers’ win over the 49ers drew a 2.9 U.S. rating and 4.890 million viewers on NFL Network Thursday night, down 24% in ratings and 21% in viewership from Week 15 last year (IND/JAX: 3.8, 6.195 mil), but up 26% and 37%, respectively, from Week 15 in 2008 (NO/CHI: 2.3, 3.558 mil).
Thursday’s game ranks as the lowest rated, least-viewed NFL telecast of the season on any network.
Additionally, this is the first time this season that NFL Network has had a decline in ratings or viewership for an NFL game.
Despite the decline, the game had no trouble topping its cable competition, including both games of Thursday’s NBA doubleheader on TNT.
