Airing on NBC for the first time in three years, the NFL Hall of Fame Game earned solid numbers.
Sunday’s Cowboys/Dolphins NFL Hall of Fame Game earned a 6.2 final rating and 10.1 million viewers on NBC, up 417% in ratings and 413% in viewership from Saints/Cardinals on NFL Network last year (1.2, 2.0M), but down 9% and 11%, respectively, from Cowboys/Bengals on NBC in 2010 (6.8, 11.3M).
The 2011 Hall of Fame Game was not played due to the NFL owners’ lockout of players.
Cowboys/Dolphins ranks as the most-viewed preseason game on any network since Chargers/Cowboys on NBC in 2011 (10.7M), and the second-most viewed Hall of Fame Game since Raiders/Eagles in 2006 (6.8, 10.6M).
Overall, the game ranks as the seventh-most viewed preseason game on any network since the current NFL TV arrangement began in 2006. The ten most-viewed games have taken place on Sunday nights, and nine of the top ten have aired on NBC.
Among adults 18-49, Sunday’s game drew a 3.8 rating — up 322% from last year’s game on NFL Network (0.9), but down 10% from the 2010 game on NBC (4.2). The 3.8 rating is the highest in the demo for any television program since the NBA Finals in June, topping the MLB All-Star Game on FOX (3.2).
(Sun. numbers from NBC Sports Group Press Box, with additional info from Media Life Magazine)
