Fueled by two big-market, 3-1 teams, Sunday Night Football saw a big increase in ratings on NBC.
Sunday night’s Bears/Falcons game drew a 10.9/17 final rating and 18.2 million viewers on NBC, up 33% in ratings and 39% in viewers from Patriots/Chargers during Week 6 last year (8.2/13, 13.1 mil), and up 54% and 62%, respectively, from Saints/Chargers during Week 6 in ’07 (7.1/11, 11.2 mil).
The 10.9 rating the highest for Sunday Night Football opposite the MLB League Championship Series since NBC began airing Sunday night games in ’06. Prior to Sunday, no SNF telecast on NBC had even drawn a 10.0 rating opposite the LCS.
Through Week 6, NBC is averaging a 12.0 rating and 19.7 million viewers for Sunday Night Football, up 18% and 19%, respectively, from a 10.2 and 16.6 million through the same point last year.
Ratings for Sunday Night Football opposite the MLB LCS
since 2006
| Year | Date | Game | Net | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Sun., 10/15/06 | Raiders/Broncos | NBC |
7.9
|
| 2007 | Sun., 10/14/07 | Saints/Seahawks | NBC |
7.1
|
| Sun., 10/21/07 | Steelers/Broncos | NBC |
8.3
|
|
| 2008 | Sun., 10/12/08 | Patriots/Chargers | NBC |
8.2
|
| Sun., 10/19/08 | Seahawks/Buccaneers | NBC |
6.3
|
|
| 2009 | Sun., 10/18/09 | Bears/Falcons | NBC |
10.9
|
Sources: TV By the Numbers, Sports Business Daily
