There was a playoff berth on the line for the Cowboys and Eagles, but ratings still dipped for the NFL on FOX season finale.
Sunday’s Week 17 NFL national window on FOX (Washington-Dallas in 74% of markets) averaged an 11.6 rating and 21.00 million viewers, down 1% from last year (mostly Bears-Vikings or Philadelphia-Washington: 11.7, 21.21M) and up 1% from 2017 (mostly Panthers-Falcons: 11.5, 20.78M).
The telecast, which also included Eagles-Giants in 18% of markets, marked just the second time this season that ratings and viewership declined for a window featuring the Cowboys. The first was Dallas’ blowout of the Rams two weeks ago.
Earlier in the day, coverage featuring Packers-Lions averaged an 8.3 (-15%) and 14.43 million (-13%). Both FOX windows outperformed the competing telecasts on CBS.
Despite the soft finish, FOX ended the season averaging 19.24 million viewers for its traditional NFC package (+7%), its highest average since 2016 (19.4M). Despite the three-year high, this season still ranks as the third-least watched on FOX in the past decade.
FOX averaged 24.36 million viewers for its nine NFL national windows (aka “America’s Game of the Week”), up 10% from last year (22.12M) and the highest since 2016 (24.6M).
In adults 18-49, Sunday’s early window averaged a 3.6 rating (-14%) and the late window a 5.3 (-7%).
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 12.31]
