The NFL on FOX has slipped into a mini-slump in recent weeks, though the numbers are not bad.
The Week 15 NFL national window, featuring 49ers/Seahawks, drew a 15.7 final rating and 26.5 million viewers on FOX — down 4% in ratings and 5% in viewership from coverage featuring Packers/Cowboys last year (16.3, 27.8M) and down 3% and 2%, respectively, from coverage featuring Steelers/Packers on CBS in 2012 (16.2, 26.9M).
The telecast ranks eighth in viewership out of the 15 NFL national windows this year, right in the middle of the pack.
Earlier in the day, coverage featuring Bengals/Browns in 46% of markets drew a 9.9 and 16.2 million — down 4% in ratings and 2% in viewership from coverage featuring Seahawks/Giants last year (10.3, 16.5M). The featured Bengals/Browns game marked Johnny Manziel’s NFL debut as a starter.
Nine of the last ten NFL telecasts on FOX have had declines in ratings, and eight have had declines in viewership. Ratings and viewership have declined for each of the past three NFL Sundays on FOX.
(Sun. numbers from Sports Business Daily)
