FOX earned strong, though not spectacular, numbers for Donovan McNabb‘s return to Philadelphia.
The Week 4 national window, featuring Washington/Eagles in 94% of TV markets, drew a 13.8 final rating and 23.134 million viewers on FOX — up 5% in ratings and viewership from Week 4 last year (DAL/DEN*: 13.1, 22.026 mil) and up 6% and 9%, respectively, from Week 4 in 2008 (WSH/DAL*: 13.0, 21.154 mil).
This marks the lowest rated NFL national window of the season (four telecasts), somewhat of a surprise considering the high-profile return of McNabb. The other three national windows drew at least a 14.0 rating.
For some perspective, last year’s return of Brett Favre to Green Bay in the Week 8 national window drew a 17.4 and 29.820 million viewers).
Ratings have dropped from week-to-week for the NFL national window (from 16.5 to 16.2 to 14.0 to 13.8), but each telecast has been up from last year.
Sunday’s telecast topped Bears/Giants on NBC (12.5, 20.929 mil), the 12th straight regular season week (dating back to Week 9 last year) that the NFL national window has beaten Sunday Night Football.
Asterisk (*) indicates featured game of window.
