An NFC Championship Game rematch was no match for Packers-Cowboys a year ago.
Sunday’s Week 5 NFL national window, featuring Vikings-Eagles in 82% of markets, delivered a 12.2 rating and 21.0 million viewers on FOX — down 10% in ratings and 12% in viewership from Packers-Cowboys last year (13.6, 23.9M). Compared to 2016 on CBS (mostly Bengals-Cowboys), ratings increased a tick (from 12.1) but viewership fell 1% (from 21.3M).
The telecast ranks as the least-watched Week 5 national window since 2014 (mostly Chiefs-49ers: 19.7M), though that comes with a caveat. The Cowboys were featured in each of the intervening years, including a blockbuster 2015 matchup against New England that had a 15.2 and 26.1 million.
In adults 18-49, the window’s 6.4 rating was the lowest in Week 5 since 2007 (5.8).
The national window was the lone exception on a strong Sunday for the NFL. Three of four windows increased, including the early doubleheader window on FOX.
Coverage featuring Packers-Lions or Giants-Panthers in 78% of markets had an 8.2 rating and 13.7 million viewers, up 9% in ratings and 11% in viewership from last year (mostly Panthers-Lions: 7.5, 12.3M) but down 9% and 10% respectively from 2016 on CBS (9.0, 15.2M).
The full list of Week 5 NFL ratings is available here.
[Numbers from Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 10.9]
