A matchup of traditional NFL powers fizzled on the field, but still delivered in the ratings for NBC.
NBC’s Sunday Night Football (Packers-49ers) averaged an 11.8 rating and 20.83 million viewers last night, marking the highest rated and most-watched Week 12 edition of SNF since 2015 (Patriots-Broncos: 14.6, 25.19M).
San Francisco’s blowout win, which peaked with 23.4 million viewers from 9:15-9:30 PM ET, was the fourth of the past six Sunday night games to hit a multi-year high.
Ratings and viewership increased 2% from last year (Packers-Vikings: 11.6, 20.44M) and 7% and 10% respectively from 2017 (Packers-Steelers: 11.0, 18.95M). Including streaming, the game averaged 21.3 million (+2%).
Despite the stronger numbers, Sunday’s game ranks a middle-of-the-road seventh out of the 13 NFL windows on NBC this season. The numbers would no doubt have been higher if not for the lopsided 29-point margin.
SNF is now averaging 20.6 million viewers across TV and digital platforms (+4%), its highest through twelve weeks since 2015.
Milwaukee led all markets Sunday night with a 38.6 rating and 57 share. The Bay Area ranked second at a 27.4/54, the market’s highest on record for SNF on NBC. 49ers secondary market Sacramento was third (24.5/43).
Minneapolis-St. Paul led all neutral markets (22.3/40) and Seattle rounded out the top five (18.7/35).
Though up overall, ratings declined in both adults 18-49 (5.9, -3%) and adults 18-34 (4.3, -7%). In the former, it was the lowest rated Week 12 edition of SNF since 2008 (Colts-Chargers: 5.6). In the latter, it was the lowest rated since ESPN last held rights in 2005 (Saints-Jets: 2.3).
[Nielsen estimates from NBC Sports, ShowBuzz Daily 11.26]
