Despite drawing a season-high overnight rating, Sunday’s Cowboys/Giants tilt stands as only the third-highest rated NFL telecast of the season. One imagines that FOX is not complaining.
Sunday’s NFL national window, featuring Cowboys/Giants, drew a 16.6/29 final rating and 27.8 million viewers on FOX — up 8% and 9%, respectively, from a 15.4 and 25.5 million for last year’s Week 13 national window on CBS (mostly Steelers/Patriots or Jets/Broncos).
Compared to last week’s national window on FOX (mostly Bears/Vikings), Sunday’s telecast was up up 16% and 18%, respectively, from a 14.3 and 23.6 million.
Cowboys/Giants stands as the third-highest rated and third-most viewed NFL telecast of the season, behind only the Week 8 national window (mostly Vikings/Packers) and the Week 7 national window (mostly Falcons/Cowboys).
So far this season, FOX has aired the four highest rated, most-viewed NFL telecasts of the season, and five of the top six.
The 16.6 rating for Sunday’s national window also marks the fourth time this season that FOX has drawn at least a 15.0 rating for an NFL telecast, “the first time ever FOX has had four such games in a single season.”
Through Week 13, FOX is averaging a 15.6/29 and 26.2 million viewers for its national game coverage (7 games), up 21% and 22%, respectively, versus CBS’ national game (12.9/25, 21.4 mil).
10 most-viewed NFL telecasts of the 2009 season
Through Week 13
| Date | Type | Featured game | Net | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., 11/1/09 | National | Vikings/Packers | FOX |
29,820
|
| Sun., 10/25/09 | National | Falcons/Cowboys | FOX |
28,399
|
| Sun., 12/8/09 | National | Cowboys/Giants | FOX |
27,834
|
| Sun., 11/15/09 | National | Cowboys/Packers | FOX |
26,747
|
| Thu., 11/26/09 | Special | Raiders/Cowboys | CBS |
25,207
|
| Sun., 9/13/09 | National | Washington/Giants | FOX |
25,109
|
| Sun., 9/20/09 | SNF | Giants/Cowboys | NBC |
24,817
|
| Sun., 10/18/09 | National | Titans/Patriots | CBS |
23,946
|
| Sun., 9/20/09 | National | Steelers/Bears | CBS |
23,879
|
| Sun., 11/29/09 | National | Bears/Vikings | FOX |
23,559
|
