The Panthers’ undefeated run was not enough to continue NBC’s NFL hot streak.
The Week 7 Eagles/Panthers Sunday Night Football game drew a 12.2 final rating and 20.6 million viewers on NBC, down 12% in ratings and 13% in viewership from 49ers/Broncos last year (13.8, 23.8M) and down 23% in both measures from Broncos/Colts in 2013 (15.9, 26.9M).
The comparable games both last year and in 2013 were milestone nights for Broncos QB Peyton Manning — who set the all-time touchdown record in last year’s game and made his first return to Indianapolis in the 2013 telecast.
The Panthers’ win was the first NFL telecast of the season on NBC to have a decline in ratings and viewership. The previous seven each hit multi-year highs. It also scored NBC’s second-lowest rating and viewership this season, ahead of only 49ers/Giants in Week 5 (11.8, 19.6M).
Among adults 18-49, SNF drew a 7.6 rating — down 7% from last year (8.2) and down 24% from 2013 (10.0).
(Sun. numbers via TV Media Insights)
