NFL Week 17 Finals: Soft Finish, But Strong Season, For NFL on FOX

Despite ending on a down note, the NFL on FOX scored near-record numbers during the 2015-16 season.

The Week 17 NFL national window on FOX, featuring Seahawks/Cardinals in 51% of markets, had a 12.0 final rating and 20.9 million viewers last Sunday afternoon — down 23% in ratings and 27% in viewership from coverage featuring Lions/Packers last year (15.6, 28.5M) and down 18% and 21%, respectively, from coverage featuring Packers/Bears in 2013 (14.6, 26.4M).

The telecast ranks as the lowest rated and least-watched NFL on FOX finale since 2011.

A big factor in the decline was tougher competition from CBS, which posted gains of 63% in ratings and 64% in viewership for its late doubleheader window. With FOX and CBS cannibalizing each other, NBC’s Sunday Night Football came out ahead in Week 17 with a 13.8 rating and 24.3 million viewers.

For the season, NFL coverage averaged a 12.0 rating and 20.7 million viewers on FOX — flat in ratings and up a fraction of a percent in viewership compared to last year (20.75M to 20.73M) but down 4% and 2%, respectively, from 2013 (12.5, 21.2M). The season ranks as the second-most watched on FOX since the network began airing games in 1994 and is tied as the network’s second-highest rated since 1995. In both cases, the 2013 season holds the top spot.

The nine FOX national windows averaged a 15.4 and 26.8 million, actually off from last year’s 15.5 and 26.9 million and down 3% and 2%, respectively, from 2013 (15.9, 27.2M).

Average Ratings/Viewership For NFL on FOX
Past 10 Seasons

(Sun. numbers via Programming Insider; season avg. from Fox Sports)