A record season for Sunday Night Football ended on a stronger note.
The Week 17 Vikings/Packers Sunday Night Football game drew a 13.8 final rating and 24.3 million viewers on NBC last Sunday, up 15% in ratings and 17% in viewership from Bengals/Steelers last year (12.0, 20.7M) but down 11% in both measures from Eagles/Cowboys two seasons ago (15.5, 27.4M).
The Vikings’ NFC North-clinching win ranks as the highest rated and most-watched SNF telecast in five weeks — since Patriots/Broncos on Thanksgiving weekend (14.6, 25.2M). Of NBC’s 19 telecasts this season, it ranks sixth in viewership and is tied for the same spot in ratings.
Sunday’s game also earned the fourth-highest rating and viewership for an SNF finale on NBC (10 telecasts), behind only the Cowboys’ three “win or go home” games in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Among adults 18-49, SNF scored a 7.9 rating — up 20% from last year (6.6) but down 15% from 2013 (9.3). It swept the NFL national window on FOX in ratings (13.8 to 12.0), viewership (24.3M to 20.9M) and the demo (7.9 to 6.5), and presumably topped the CBS national window as well (final numbers for that telecast were not immediately available).
For the full NFL season, NBC averaged a 13.0 rating and 22.5 million viewers — up 4% in ratings and 6% in viewership from last year (12.5, 21.3M) and up 2% and 4%, respectively, from 2013 (12.8, 21.7M). No primetime NFL package has averaged a higher rating since 1999 (13.7) or a larger audience since 1996 (22.7M).
NBC also averaged an 8.0 rating among adults 18-49, up 4% from last year. In ratings, viewership and the demo, Sunday Night Football ranks as television’s top show.
SNF Season Average and Season-High Since Moving to NBC
| Year | Season Avg. | Season-High | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rtg. | Vwrs. | Game | Rtg. | Vwrs. | |
| 2015 | 13.0 | 22.5M | See below* | 16.2 | 27.75M |
| 2014 | 12.5 | 21.3M | Seahawks Packers |
15.7 | 27.10M |
| 2013 | 12.8 | 21.7M | See below^ | 15.9 | 27.40M |
| 2012 | 12.8 | 21.4M | Cowboys Wash. |
17.0 | 30.28M |
| 2011 | 12.9 | 21.5M | See below# | 16.0 | 27.62M |
| 2010 | 13.0 | 21.8M | Vikings Saints |
16.5 | 27.49M |
| 2009 | 11.7 | 19.4M | Giants Cowboys |
15.1 | 24.82M |
| 2008 | 10.2 | 16.6M | Giants Cowboys |
13.7 | 23.05M |
| 2007 | 10.0 | 16.0M | Eagles Patriots |
13.4 | 21.81M |
| 2006 | 11.0 | 17.5M | Colts Giants |
14.3 | 22.57M |
| *: This season, Steelers/Patriots was the highest rated (16.2) and Bears/Packers the most-watched (27.8M). ^: In 2013, Broncos/Colts was the highest rated (15.9) and Eagles/Cowboys the most-watched (27.4M). #: In 2011, Saints/Packers was the highest rated (16.0) and Cowboys/Giants the most-watched (27.6M). |
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(Sun. numbers from NBC Sports Group Press Box, Programming Insider)
