It did not generate any national outrage, but Sunday’s thriller between the Patriots and Ravens attracted strong numbers for NBC.
The Week 3 Patriots/Ravens “Sunday Night Football” game drew a 12.9 final rating and 21.272 million viewers on NBC, up 6% in ratings and 4% in viewership from Steelers/Colts last year (12.2, 20.357M), and up 14% and 17%, respectively, from Jets/Dolphins in 2010 (11.3, 18.147M).
The game ranks as the highest rated and most-viewed Week 3 edition of “SNF” since Cowboys/Packers in 2008 (13.3, 22.230M).
Among adults 18-49, “SNF” drew an 8.7 rating — up 5% from last year (8.3), and up 19% from 2010 (7.3).
As is typical, the game was the top primetime program of the week on broadcast in household ratings, P2+ viewership, and the adults 18-49 demographic. Head-to-head Sunday night, “SNF” annihilated the primetime Emmy Awards on ABC (8.5, 13.255M, 3.9 A18-49).
Through Week 3, NFL coverage on NBC has averaged a 14.2 rating and 23.5 million viewers — down 2% in ratings and 3% in viewership from last year (14.5, 24.2M), but up 1% in both measures compared to 2010 (14.0, 23.3M).
(Sunday’s numbers from Media Life Magazine, with three-week average from NBC Sports Group press release via Fang’s Bites)
