NFL ratings got off to a good start on FOX, though the numbers still remain low by recent standards.
The Week 1 NFL national window, featuring Cowboys-Panthers in 80% of markets, had a 13.1 rating and 23.3 million viewers on FOX — up 3% in ratings and 2% in viewership from last year (mostly Seahawks-Packers: 12.7, 22.8M) but down 15% in both measures from 2016 (mostly Giants-Cowboys: 15.5, 27.5M).
The telecast ranks as the second-most watched Week 1 national window since 2014 (28.1M). Go back further and the numbers tell a different story. It was the second-lowest rated and third-least watched Week 1 national window since 2008.
If one goes back even further, the numbers look begin to look more impressive. It was the eighth-most watched Week 1 national window in the past 18 seasons.
Simply put, Sunday’s numbers remained subpar compared to the NFL’s boom years — 2009 to 2015, give or take a year. Outside of that dominant stretch, the numbers were typical of the league’s drawing power for much of the 2000s.
Earlier Sunday, regional action featuring 49ers-Vikings in a plurality of markets had a 7.4 and 12.5 million — up 12% in ratings and 11% in viewership from last year (mostly Philadelphia-Washington: 6.6, 11.3M) but down 20% in both measures from 2016 (feat. Packers-Jaguars: 9.2, 15.8M).
Outside of last year, it was the worst performance for the Week 1 early doubleheader window since 2008 (5.1, 7.88M).
The full list of Week 1 NFL ratings is available here.
Week 1 NFL National Window Ratings, Viewership (2001-Present)
[Numbers from Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 9.11]
