NFL preseason ratings continued to slump over the weekend.
Sunday’s Steelers-Titans NFL preseason game averaged a 3.8 rating and 6.24 million viewers on NBC, down 14% in ratings and 13% in viewership from last year (Cardinals-Cowboys: 4.4, 7.17M) and down 16% and 15% respectively from 2017 (49ers-Vikings: 4.5, 7.32M).
The Steelers’ win delivered the highest rating and viewership of the preseason, topping the previous highs of 3.4 and 5.33 million for the Broncos-Falcons Hall of Fame Game on NBC.
It was also the highest rated and most-watched sporting event of the weekend, topping the previous night’s Miami-Florida college football game on ESPN (3.4, 5.97M), and dominating the competing Yankees-Dodgers Major League Baseball game on ESPN (1.5, 2.39M).
Even so, the game continued a downward trend for this year’s preseason. Of the 15 preseason games that aired in the same window and on the same network as last year, 11 have posted a decline in ratings and/or viewership.
On Saturday, NFL Network averaged a 0.5 and 766,000 for Cardinals-Vikings — down a tick in ratings and 23% in viewership from Chiefs-Bears last year (0.6, 994K). In primetime, it drew a 0.6 and 1.03 million for Texans-Cowboys and a 0.5 and 751,000 for Seahawks-Rams. Last year’s comparable Saturday night game aired on CBS (Saints-Chargers: 2.2, 3.40M).
[Nielsen estimates via ShowBuzz Daily 8.27]
