The numbers would have been middling just two years ago, but by 2017 standards, FOX NFL ratings were quite strong last weekend.
The Week 14 NFL national window, featuring Eagles-Rams in 90% of markets, had a 13.7 rating and 23.8 million viewers on fOX — down 5% in ratings and 6% in viewership from last year (mostly Seahawks-Packers: 14.4, 25.3M) and down 17% and 18% respectively from Cowboys-Packers in 2015 (16.5, 28.9M).
The 13.7 rating is the second-highest of the NFL season, behind a 14.3 for the Week 2 national window (mostly Cowboys-Broncos). At the same point last season, a 13.7 rating would have ranked ninth. In 2015, it would have ranked 20th.
The telecast ranks sixth of the season in viewership, behind four Cowboys games and Vikings-Lions on Thanksgiving (24.7M). Overall, FOX has aired seven of the nine most-watched NFL telecasts this season, and six of the seven highest rated.
Earlier in the day, regional coverage featuring Cowboys-Giants in 66% of markets had a 9.1 and 15.5 million — up 21% in ratings and 26% in viewership from last year (mostly Washington-Philadelphia: 7.5, 12.3M) and up 2% and 3% respectively from 2015 (8.9, 15.2M).
It ranks as the highest rated and most-watched early doubleheader window this season, topping the previous marks of 8.4 and 14.4 million in Week 2.
As should be no surprise, it was the lowest rated and least-watched Cowboys-Giants game since Week 17 of the 2004-05 season. That year, the matchup scored a 5.9 rating and 8.6 million viewers on ESPN’s Sunday Night Football. The rivals had had not played in the 1 PM ET window since the 2005-06 season.
The 2017 NFL ratings chart is available here.
[Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 12.13]
