For the second straight week, Olympic competition sank NFL preseason viewership.
Saturday’s Chiefs/Rams NFL preseason game scored a 0.5 final rating and 809,000 viewers on NFL Network, down 22% in ratings (0.65 to 0.51) and 18% in viewership (from 988K) compared to Chargers/Cardinals last year. There was no comparable window in 2014.
In Los Angeles, where NFL Network coverage was blacked out, the game drew a 3.4 on KCBS — down 51% from the Rams’ preseason opener on ESPN and KABC. By comparison, the Rams’ previous home St. Louis turned in a 3.2.
Earlier Saturday, Ravens/Colts fell 34% in both ratings (0.99 to 0.65) and viewership (1.6M to 1.0M). Giants/Bills rounded out the tripleheader with a 0.7 and 1.0 million; there was no comparable live window last year.
In other action, Dolphins/Cowboys scored a 0.8 and 1.2 million Friday night, off 24% in viewership from Seahawks/Chiefs last year (1.6M). Eagles/Steelers and Vikings/Seahawks had 1.1 million and 1.0 million, respectively, last Thursday night; there were no comparable windows last year.
(Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily [1], [2], Programming Insider, St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
