A unique NFL doubleheader on FOX generated good numbers last Sunday.
The Week 8 NFL singleheader window drew an 11.0 final rating and 18.4 million viewers on FOX Sunday afternoon, up 18% in ratings and 21% in viewership from coverage on CBS last year (9.3, 15.2M). A plurality of the country — 44% — received the 4 PM ET Eagles/Cardinals game.
In the rest of the country, the singleheader had a direct lead-in from the 9:30 AM ET Lions/Falcons game from London. The Lions’ win drew a 5.5 and 8.5 million, the lowest rated and least-viewed NFL telecast of the season on any network, but more-than-respectable given the timeslot.
Lions/Falcons had a higher rating and more viewers than all-but-one college football game this year, with the caveat that college football tends to cannibalize itself with games on various networks.
A 20-minute edition of Fox NFL Sunday served as a bridge between Lions/Falcons and the 1 PM ET games, earning a 6.5 and 10.0 million. With Lions/Falcons likely providing at least some boost, the singleheader was only the third NFL telecast of the season on FOX to have an increase over last year.
(Sun. numbers from Sports Business Daily)
