The NFC Championship Game was a massive television draw, but still could not match last year.
The Packers/Seahawks NFC Championship Game drew a 27.4 rating and 49.8 million viewers on FOX Sunday afternoon, according to Nielsen fast-nationals — down 2% in ratings and 3% in viewership from Patriots/Broncos on CBS last year (28.1, 51.3M) but up 13% and 12%, respectively, from 49ers/Falcons on FOX in 2013 (24.2, 42.0M).
Compared to last year’s 49ers/Seahawks NFC Championship Game, which aired in the late window, ratings and viewership declined by 4% and 11%, respectively. Except for 49ers/Falcons in 2013, no NFC Championship Game has earned a smaller audience since Eagles/Cardinals in 2009.
Despite the lower numbers, the Seahawks’ comeback win ranks as the third-most watched early Conference Championship game since the current scheduling format began in the 2003 playoffs. Only Patriots/Broncos last year and Packers/Bears in 2011 (51.9M) earned a larger audience.
In addition, Packers/Seahawks easily outdrew the Colts/Patriots AFC Championship Game on CBS later in the evening (22.5, 42.1M). This year marks the first time since 2006 that the early Conference Championship game has outdrawn the late window.
Though Packers/Seahawks trailed last year’s Patriots/Broncos game overall, it attracted a larger peak audience. Ratings and viewership hit a 31.9 and 59.6 million from 6-6:30 PM ET, compared to a peak half-hour of 31.5 and 59.1 million for last year’s game.
Milwaukee (53.9) and Seattle (51.9) were the top local markets, with Portland (38.4), Minneapolis (37.7) and Indianapolis (36.5) rounding out the top five.
(Sun. numbers from Fox Sports)
