The game was a blowout and the ratings were down, but Peyton Manning‘s touchdown record helped NBC to solid numbers for Sunday Night Football.
The Week 7 49ers/Broncos Sunday Night Football game drew a 13.8 final rating and 23.8 million viewers on NBC, down 13% in ratings and 12% in viewership from Broncos/Colts last year (15.9, 26.9M) and up 29% and 36%, respectively, from Steelers/Bengals in 2012 (10.7, 17.5M). Last year’s game marked Manning’s first game in Indianapolis as an opponent.
This year’s game featured Manning’s record 509th career touchdown pass, a milestone that more than made up for the Broncos’ blowout victory. Viewership peaked at 27.0 million from 9:30-10 PM ET as he set the record.
Though down from last year, 49ers/Broncos ranks as the highest rated Sunday night telecast since Colts/Broncos in Week 1 and the most-watched of the season. That of course does not include the Thursday night kickoff game.
Among adults 18-49, the game had an 8.2 rating — down 18% from last year (10.0) but up 22% from 2012 (6.7).
NBC has averaged 22.1 million viewers for NFL coverage through Week 7, down 3% from last year (22.7M), but up 2% from 2012 (21.6M). The average is NBC’s second-highest through this point of the season since acquiring NFL rights.
(Sun. numbers from NBC Sports Group Press Box, with additional info from Media Life Magazine)
