The 49ers and Saints gave FOX a lift in the ratings, if not as big as one might have expected.
Sunday’s NFL singleheader (49ers-Saints in most markets) averaged a 10.4 rating and 17.76 million viewers on FOX, the highest for the window in Week 14 of the season since 2016 on CBS (11.2, 19.10M).
Ratings and viewership increased 6% from last year (9.8, 16.71M) and 28% from 2017 (8.1, 13.89M). Those windows also aired on CBS.
Better numbers could have been expected given the featured matchup, a high-scoring thriller between Super Bowl contenders. The previous week’s singleheader, which featured a similarly-appealing 49ers-Ravens game, averaged a higher rating (12.0) and larger audience (20.90M); posted bigger gains over last year (+45 and +50 percent respectively); and was the top singleheader in any week of the season since 2015.
Overall, Sunday’s telecast ranks fourth out of 14 singleheader windows this season. Last week holds the top spot, followed by Week 9 (mostly Vikings-Chiefs or Eagles-Bears: 10.5, 18.27M) and Week 3 (mostly Broncos-Packers or Dolphins-Cowboys: 10.8, 18.66M).
The numbers were nonetheless strong, with the 10.4 rating outpacing NBC’s Sunday Night Football (Seahawks-Rams: 10.2) — marking just the second time this season that the singleheader has outrated SNF.
FOX is now averaging 19.30 million viewers for its traditional NFC package (+8%), its highest at this point of the season since 2016.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 12.10, Fox Sports PR]
