FOX and NBC were again the top NFL networks during the regular season, but both had modest declines compared to last year.
NBC averaged a 12.5 rating and 21.3 million viewers for regular season NFL coverage (19 telecasts), down 3% in ratings and 2% in viewership from last year (12.8, 21.7M), down 3% and 1%, respectively, from 2013 (12.8, 21.4M), and the network’s lowest-rated and least-watched season since 2009 (11.7, 19.4M).
Despite the multi-year low, NBC was the highest rated and most-watched NFL broadcaster for the sixth straight season.
FOX ranked second for the season with a 12.0 and 20.7 million for its 27 telecast windows, down 4% in ratings and viewership from last year (12.5, 21.5M) but up 2% and 5%, respectively, from 2013 (11.8, 19.7M). Keep in mind that excludes the special 9:30 AM Lions/Falcons game in Week 8, which was the network’s lowest rated and least-watched telecast of the season (5.5, 8.5M).
Though down from last year, the 2014 season was the second-most watched ever on FOX. The last five seasons have been the network’s most-watched since acquiring NFL rights.
Ranking last among the broadcast networks was CBS, which averaged 18.7 million for its NFL coverage — matching last year and up 6% from 2013 (17.7M). Viewership tied last year as the second-highest for the AFC broadcast package since at least 1987.
Shifting to cable, ESPN averaged an 8.3 and 13.3 million for 17 Monday Night Football telecasts, down 4% and 2%, respectively, from last year (8.6, 13.7M). Thursday Night Football averaged a 7.6 and 12.3 million for its 16-game slate (eight telecasts on CBS/NFL Network and eight on NFL Network alone), up 52% in both measures from last year (5.0, 8.1M).
(Season avg. from NBC Sports Group Press Box, Fox Sports, ESPN Media Zone, NFL Communications, twitter.com/cbssportsgang)
