At the risk of prematurely proclaiming the NFL “back” like Magic Johnson at an NBA dunk contest, Sunday’s numbers were a return to form.
The Week 10 NFL national window, featuring Cowboys/Steelers in 92% of markets, had a 16.4 final rating and 28.9 million viewers on FOX Sunday afternoon — up 1% in ratings and 2% in viewership from Patriots/Giants on CBS last year (16.3, 28.3M) and up 21% and 27%, respectively, from coverage featuring Giants/Seahawks on FOX in 2014 (13.5, 22.7M).
The telecast ranks as the highest rated and most-watched NFL window this season, topping the previous highs of 15.8 and 28.0 million for the Week 6 national window — which featured Cowboys/Packers in 86% of markets. The top three NFL telecasts this season, and four of the top six, have featured the league-leading 8-1 Cowboys.
In addition to the season-high, Sunday’s telecast was just the third of ten NFL national windows this season to increase over last year, and the first to hit a multi-year high. The 16.4 rating was the highest for the Week 10 national window in 19 years, since FOX pulled a 16.5 in 1997.
FOX has now averaged 25.9 million viewers for its five NFL national windows (aka “America’s Game of the Week”) — down 3% from the comparable point last year (26.8M).
Earlier Sunday, regional action featuring Falcons/Eagles or Packers/Titans in most markets had a 9.4 and 15.9 million — up 11% in ratings and 13% in viewership from last year on CBS (8.5, 14.2M) and up 15% and 18%, respectively, from 2014 on FOX (8.2, 13.5M).
Including Sunday Night Football, three of Sunday’s four NFL windows hit multi-year highs — compared to five of the previous 58.
(Wknd. numbers from Fox Sports, ShowBuzz Daily 11/15)
