Sunday Night Football ratings were up in Week 6, but the results were probably not what NBC had in mind.
Chiefs-Texans earned a 9.5 rating and 16.5 million viewers on NBC Sunday night, up 2% in ratings but down 1% in viewership compared to Giants-Packers last year, which aired opposite a presidential debate (9.3, 16.6M). Compared to 49ers-Giants in 2015, ratings fell 19% and viewership 16% from an 11.8 and 19.6 million.
The Chiefs’ win, which saw Texans star J.J. Watt leave early due to injury, was the least-watched Week 5 SNF game since Steelers-Jaguars in 2008 (14.2M).
It was just the second NFL telecast on NBC this season to post an increase in ratings (six telecasts), though last year’s unusual circumstances provide an obvious caveat.
Including streaming viewership, Sunday’s game had 16.7 million viewers, even with last year. In adults 18-49, its 5.8 rating was off a tick from last year (5.9) and 16% from 2015 (6.9).
[Wknd. numbers from NBC Sports, ShowBuzz Daily 10.10]
