A weak matchup delivered weak numbers on Thursday Night Football.
The Week 5 Cardinals/49ers TNF game had a 7.4 rating and 12.1 million viewers on CBS and NFL Network, down 22% in ratings and 20% in viewership from Colts/Texans last year (9.5, 15.1M), down 24% and 27%, respectively, from Vikings/Packers in 2014 (9.8, 16.5M).
The Cardinals’ win ranks as the lowest rated and second-least watched TNF simulcast on CBS (20 telecasts dating back to 2014), trailing only Buccaneers/Falcons in 2014 in the latter measure (11.9M).
Overall, it was the lowest rated primetime NFL game on a broadcast network since Seahawks/Buccaneers on NBC’s Sunday Night Football in 2008 (6.3). Going back further, the 7.4 is the third-lowest rating ever for a primetime game on broadcast — trailing only the 2008 game and Saints/Seahawks on NBC in 2007 (7.1).
In adults 18-49, TNF scored a 4.1 rating — down 18% from last year (5.0) and down 31% from 2014 (5.9). Streaming figures were not disclosed by CBS or NFL Network.
Through Thursday, 21 of 27 NFL telecast windows this season have posted declines in viewership and 17 have hit multi-year lows.
(Thu. numbers via Programming Insider 10/7, ShowBuzz Daily 10/7)
