The NFL on FOX posted a rare ratings decline. Also: viewership lows for the NFL in London and the NLCS, and a huge increase for Formula 1.
Rare decline for NFL on FOX
Sunday’s Week 6 NFL singleheader (Eagles-Vikings or 49ers-Rams in most markets) averaged a 9.5 rating and 16.37 million viewers on FOX, down 5% in ratings and viewership from last year (ft. Carolina-Washington: 10.0, 17.29M), but up 1% in both measures from 2017 (ft. Packers-Vikings: 9.4, 16.20M).
It was just the second of 12 NFL windows on FOX this season to decline (includes Thursday Night Football).
Minneapolis-St. Paul led all markets with a 36.1 rating and a 74 share for Eagles-Vikings. Cleveland (33.1/66) and Seattle (31.9/70) ranked second and third for Seahawks-Browns, followed by Philadelphia (Eagles-Vikings: 25.7/52) and the Bay Area (49ers-Rams: 19.8/54).
Panthers-Bucs London game least-watched NFL game in six years
NFL Network averaged a 1.9 rating and 3.08 million viewers for Panthers-Buccaneers from London Sunday morning, marking the lowest rated and least-watched regular season NFL telecast since 2013. That year, NFL Network scored a 1.6 and 2.53 million for a rescheduled Chargers-Raiders game that began after 11:30 PM ET.
No regularly scheduled NFL game has had a lower rating since Raiders-Chargers on NFL Network in 2008 (1.3) and no game has had a smaller audience since Jets-Bills on NFL Network in 2009 (3.07M).
Cards-Nats posts smallest primetime LCS audience since ’15
Monday’s Cardinals-Nationals NLCS Game 3 averaged a 2.25 rating and 3.65 million viewers on TBS, marking the least-watched primetime LCS game in four years (2015 Royals-Blue Jays Game 3: 3.09M) and the least-watched NLCS Game 3 in five — since a 2014 Giants-Cardinals matinee on FS1 (2.78M).
Washington’s win fell 10% in ratings and 13% in viewership from last year on FS1 (Brewers-Dodgers: 2.5, 4.21M) and 34% and 39% respectively from 2017 on TBS (Dodgers-Cubs: 3.4, 6.01M). Versus last year’s LCS Game 3 on TBS, it sank 25% from Red Sox-Astros (3.0, 4.87M).
Huge jump for F1 Japanese GP
The Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix averaged a 0.5 rating and 756,000 viewers on ESPN early Sunday morning, the largest audience ever for the race. Viewership soared 156% from last year on ESPN2 (295K) and 225% from 2017 on NBCSN (232K).
F1 races are averaging 657,000 on the ESPN networks this season (+24%), with 14 of 17 races up from last year.
In other racing action, Monday’s conclusion of the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega (Ala.) averaged 1.54 million viewers on NBCSN, ranking fourth out of the nine Monday races under the current TV deal. Keep in mind that Monday was a holiday in much of the country.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 10.15, ESPN, Programming Insider 10.15]
