For the second straight week, FOX was the only major NFL broadcast partner to have an increase in overnight ratings.
The Week 4 NFL national window, featuring Eagles/Broncos in 69% of markets, earned an 18.5 overnight rating on FOX Sunday afternoon — up 24% from coverage featuring Saints/Packers last year (14.9), up 36% from coverage featuring Broncos/Packers on CBS in 2011 (13.6), and the highest overnight of the season for the NFL on any network.
Keep in mind Sunday’s featured Eagles/Broncos game was an uncompetitive blowout. At the end of the third quarter, FOX sent most viewers to the Cowboys/Chargers game.
Earlier in the day, FOX drew a 10.2 overnight for regional coverage featuring Seahawks/Texans in 40% of markets — up 4% from coverage featuring 49ers/Jets last year (9.8), and up 10% from coverage on CBS in 2011 (9.3).
Speaking of CBS, the network’s Week 4 singleheader window earned a 9.4 overnight — down 10% from coverage last year (10.4), and down 37% from coverage on FOX featuring Lions/Cowboys in 2011 (14.9). The 9.4 is the lowest of the season for the singleheader window.
Primetime action also had declines in Week 4. NBC’s Patriots/Falcons “Sunday Night Football” game earned a 13.6 overnight, down 13% from Giants/Eagles last year (15.6), but up 7% from Jets/Ravens in 2011 (12.7). All five NFL telecasts on NBC this season have had declines in overnight ratings.
ESPN earned a 9.7 overnight for the Dolphins/Saints “Monday Night Football” game — down 16% from Bears/Cowboys last year (11.6), but up 21% from Colts/Buccaneers in 2011 (8.0). The 9.7 is the second-lowest of the season for a Monday night game, ahead of only the late night Texans/Chargers matchup in Week 1 (7.7).
As usual, overnights were not available for the Thursday night game on NFL Network.
(Sun. overnights from Sports Business Daily, ESPN)
