In a rarity, ratings and viewership hit decade-plus lows for a Cowboys game.
Last Sunday’s NFL national window (Rams-Cowboys in 87% of markets) averaged a 13.1 rating and 23.02 million viewers on FOX, marking the lowest rated Week 15 national window since 2005 (11.4) and the least-watched since 2006 (21.22M).
The telecast, which also included the Falcons’ upset of the 49ers, declined 8% in ratings and 6% in viewership from last year (Patriots-Steelers: 14.2, 24.57M) and 14% in both measures from 2017 (mostly Patriots-Steelers: 15.2, 26.88M). Those windows aired on CBS.
It marked the first time this season that ratings or viewership dropped for a window that included the Cowboys. Keep in mind that all-but-one of the team’s games has aired in a majority of television markets.
Despite the drop, FOX is still averaging 24.62 million viewers for its late doubleheader windows this season (aka “America’s Game of the Week”) — up 11% from last year and the highest average since 2016.
Earlier Sunday, regional action featuring Bears-Packers averaged a 9.4 (+45%) and 15.87 million (+44%) — the highest for the window in Week 15 since 2014 (9.9, 16.16M).
FOX is averaging 19.33 million viewers for its traditional NFC package (+7%), its highest since 2016.
The early window averaged a 4.0 rating in adults 18-49 (+42%) and the late window a 6.1 (-6%). The 6.1 is the lowest for the Week 15 national window since at least 2000.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 12.17, Fox Sports]
