Meeting for just the second time in the postseason, the Packers and Bears set a viewership on FOX Sunday afternoon.
The Packers’ win over the Bears in the 2011 NFC Championship Game earned a 28.1 fast-national rating and 51.9 million viewers on FOX, the network announced in a press release Monday.
This marks an increase of 7% in ratings and 11% in viewership compared to last year’s early window (NYJ/IND: 26.3, 46.917 mil, CBS), and an increase of 28% and 35%, respectively, from 2009 (PHI/ARI: 21.9, 38.387 mil, FOX).
Packers/Bears ranks as the most-viewed early Conference Championship game ever, and the highest rated since the 1996-97 season (CAR/GB: 30.1, FOX).
Despite the big numbers, Sunday’s game trailed two of the last three NFC Championship games. Both the 2010 game (MIN/NO: 30.6, 57.933 mil) and the 2008 game (NYG/GB: 29.0, 53,937 mil) drew better numbers.
Keep in mind both of those games aired in the late timeslot.
Even so, Packers/Bears ranks as the fourth most-viewed Conference Championship game, regardless of timeslot, of at least the past ten seasons (20 telecasts), surpassed only by the two aforementioned NFC games and this year’s AFC title game.
Ratings and viewership for Sunday’s game peaked at a 31.5 and 59.5 million viewers from 5:30-6 PM ET, topping CBS’ peak half-hour for the AFC Championship Game later in the day (9-9:30 PM: 29.9, 56.609 mil).
(Fox Sports press release from TV By The Numbers)
