Television ratings for the NFL Hall of Fame Game were among the lowest in years on broadcast TV, but still remained quite strong for a meaningless exhibition.
The Giants/Bills NFL Hall of Fame Game drew a 5.2 final rating and 8.5 million viewers on NBC Sunday night, down 16% in ratings and viewership from Cowboys/Dolphins last year (6.2, 10.1M) but up 333% in both measures from Saints/Cardinals on NFL Network in 2012 (1.2, 2.0M).
The 5.2 rating is the third-lowest for the Hall of Fame Game on broadcast TV since 1998, ahead of only Washington/Colts in 2008 (4.7) and Bills/Titans in 2009 (4.9). It also tied the lowest rating for any preseason game on NBC since Bills/Titans.
Despite the lower numbers, the Hall of Fame Game did well compared to other sports’ postseason games. Giants/Bills topped every game of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and every game of the NBA Playoffs outside of the NBA Finals. It also finished not far behind the rain-delayed Daytona 500, which earned a 5.6 rating and 9.3 million viewers opposite the Olympics.
Among adults 18-49, Sunday’s game had a 2.8 rating — down 26% from last year (3.8) but up 211% from 2012 on NFL Network (0.9).
(Sun. numbers from Media Life Magazine)
