A low key edition of “Sunday Night Football” hit a season-low on NBC.
The Week 15 Bengals/Steelers “Sunday Night Football” game drew a 9.9 final rating and 16.4 million viewers on NBC, down 29% in ratings and viewership from 49ers/Patriots last year (13.9, 23.2M), and down 2% and 1%, respectively, from Ravens/Chargers in 2011 (10.1, 16.6M).
Bengals/Steelers ranks as the least-viewed NFL telecast of the season on NBC, and the second-lowest rated. The only game to draw a lower rating was Packers/Vikings opposite the World Series in Week 8 (9.8).
Overall, the game ranks as the least-viewed regular season NFL telecast on NBC since Colts/Saints in October 2011 (12.5M).
In addition, the game was the twelfth of seventeen NFL telecasts on NBC this season to have a decline in ratings and viewership. The last three telecasts have each had double-digit declines.
Among adults 18-49, “SNF” drew a 5.6 rating — down 35% from last year (8.7), and down 8% form 2011 (6.1).
(Week 15 finals from Media Life Magazine)
