Even more than usual, the NFL generated massive television audiences in 2013.
Twenty-two NFL telecasts earned at least 25 million viewers during the 2013 regular season, compared to just eight last year and thirteen in 2011. The season’s most-viewed game was Raiders/Cowboys on CBS Thanksgiving Day (31.7M), and the highest rated was the Week 13 national window on CBS, which featured Broncos/Chiefs in 86% of markets (16.7).
Eleven of the 12 most-viewed games during the 2013 season featured the Cowboys, Packers or Broncos. The top game to not feature those teams was the Week 14 national window on FOX (Seahawks/49ers in 78% of markets), which earned 27.6 million.
CBS and FOX accounted for the eight most-viewed games of the season. NBC’s top game, Eagles/Cowboys in Week 17, earned a 15.5 rating and 27.4 million viewers.
On cable, the highest rated game of the season was Cowboys/Bears in Week 14 (10.2) and the most-viewed was Eagles/Washington in Week 1 (16.5M). Both games, it should be no surprise, aired on ESPN. NFL Network’s top game was Chiefs/Eagles in Week 3 (6.0, 9.4M).
On the other end of the spectrum, the season’s lowest rated and least-viewed game was Chargers/Raiders on NFL Network in Week 5 (1.6, 2.5M). That game was rescheduled from Sunday afternoon to 11:35 PM ET.
Most-Viewed NFL Telecasts During 2013 Regular Season
|
#
|
Date |
Window
|
Away | Home | Net | Rating | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Thu., 11/28/13 |
Special
|
Raiders | Cowboys | CBS |
14.3
|
31.68M
|
|
2
|
Sun., 9/8/13 |
National
|
Packers | 49ers | FOX |
16.6
|
28.48M
|
|
3
|
Thu., 11/28/13 |
Special
|
Packers | Lions | FOX |
13.4
|
28.34M
|
|
4
|
Sun., 10/6/13 |
National
|
Broncos | Cowboys | CBS |
16.6
|
28.32M
|
|
5
|
Sun., 12/1/13 |
National
|
Broncos | Chiefs | CBS |
16.7
|
28.11M
|
|
6
|
Sun., 11/24/13 |
National
|
Cowboys | Giants | FOX |
16.4
|
27.94M
|
|
7
|
Sun., 12/15/13 |
National
|
Packers | Cowboys | FOX |
16.3
|
27.77M
|
|
8
|
Sun., 12/8/13 |
National
|
Seahawks | 49ers | FOX |
16.2
|
27.65M
|
|
9
|
Sun., 12/29/13 |
SNF
|
Eagles | Cowboys | NBC |
15.5
|
27.40M
|
|
10
|
Sun., 9/29/13 |
National
|
Eagles | Broncos | FOX |
16.1
|
27.00M
|
|
11
|
Sun,., 11/17/13 |
SNF
|
Chiefs | Broncos | NBC |
15.5
|
26.95M
|
|
12
|
Sun., 10/20/13 |
SNF
|
Broncos | Colts | NBC |
15.9
|
26.94M
|
|
13
|
Sun., 11/17/13 |
National
|
49ers | Saints | FOX |
15.5
|
26.94M
|
|
14
|
Sun., 10/13/13 |
National
|
Saints | Patriots | FOX |
15.8
|
26.70M
|
|
15
|
Sun., 11/24/13 |
SNF
|
Broncos | Patriots | FOX |
15.6
|
26.48M
|
|
16
|
Sun., 9/15/13 |
National
|
Broncos | Giants | CBS |
15.8
|
26.42M
|
|
17
|
Sun., 12/29/13 |
National
|
Packers | Bears | FOX |
14.6
|
26.35M
|
|
18
|
Sun., 9/22/13 |
National
|
Colts | 49ers | CBS |
15.4
|
25.58M
|
|
19
|
Sun., 10/27/13 |
National
|
Washington | Broncos | FOX |
15.3
|
25.50M
|
|
20
|
Sun., 9/8/13 |
SNF
|
Giants | Cowboys | NBC |
15.0
|
25.40M
|
