FOX posted declines for its traditional NFL doubleheader on Sunday, but scored a solid gain for an early morning special from London.
The Week 8 Packers/Falcons NFL national window had a 14.7 overnight rating on FOX Sunday afternoon, down 25% from Seahawks/Cowboys last year (19.5) but up 13% from coverage featuring Colts/Steelers on CBS in 2014 (13.0).
The 14.7 is the lowest of the season for “America’s Game of the Week” on FOX (four telecasts), but exceeds all four national windows on CBS. For just the second time all season, the national window was not the top sporting event of the weekend — trailing its lead-out program, Game 5 of the World Series (15.3).
Overnights for the national window have now declined in six of eight weeks this season.
Earlier in the day, the Washington/Cincinnati NFL International Series game from London had a 6.8 overnight — up 15% from Lions/Chiefs last year (5.9) and up 2% from Lions/Falcons in 2014 (6.6). The 6.8 is the second-highest for an early morning London game (six telecasts dating back to 2014), behind Jets/Dolphins on CBS last year (7.2). The season’s previous London games had overnights of 5.5 (Colts/Jaguars on CBS in Week 4) and 2.8 (Giants/Rams on NFL Network in Week 7).
The game, the second of the season to end in a tie, was just the 12th of 49 NFL telecasts this season* to post an increase in the metered markets.
In other action, FOX had a 9.0 overnight for regional coverage featuring Seahawks/Saints — down 17% from last year (10.9) and down 15% from 2014 on CBS (10.6).
* Excludes two Thursday Night Football games that aired exclusively on NFL Network, as figures for those telecasts were not available.
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily 10/31)
