The 2011-12 NFL season got off to a slower start on FOX Sunday.
The Week 1 NFL national window, featuring Giants/Washington in 63% of markets, earned a 15.3 final rating and 25.802 million viewers on FOX Sunday afternoon — down 7% in ratings and 8% in viewership from last year (GB/PHI*: 16.5, 28.023M), but up 3% in both measures compared to 2009 (WSH/NYG*: 14.8, 25.109M).
The telecast just barely edged Sunday’s Cowboys/Jets game on NBC (15.3, 25.766M) as the most-viewed NFL telecast of the day.
Earlier in the day, regional coverage featuring Eagles/Rams in 46% of markets drew an 8.0 and 13.044 million viewers, down 1% in ratings and 0.3% in viewership compared to last year (CAR/NYG*: 8.1, 13.086M), and down 7% and 8%, respectively, from 2009 (DAL/TB*: 8.6, 14.149M).
Six of the seven NFL telecast windows during Week 1 were down from last year.
(Nielsen; asterisk indicates featured game of regional window)
