More fans are watching NFL games on television through the season's first four weeks than ever before, according to information provided by The Nielsen Company.
More than 150 million fans* have tuned in to at least part of an NFL game this season – topping 146.1 viewers million at this point last year. The average NFL game telecast (including broadcast and cable) has drawn 18.9 million viewers* – double the average primetime viewership (9.2 million) for the big four broadcast networks in the new television season.
In addition, a record nine game telecasts have topped the 20-million viewer mark. Other than NFL games, only two programs have drawn 20 million viewers this fall.
Locally, NFL games topped the ratings 93 percent of the time – a record through four weeks. Half of the NFL clubs (16 of 32) have posted at least a 10 percent increase in local ratings compared to 2009.
NFL telecasts have been TV's most-watched program of the week in all four weeks of the season, with this week's FOX national game (mostly Redskins-Eagles) drawing 23.1 million viewers.
Viewership for all four network partners is up through four weeks. Following is a look at the four-week success for each network:
CBS
· Most-watched start ever for CBS AFC package
· Most-watched CBS September telecast on record (CBS national, mostly Patriots-Jets, 9/19)
ESPN
· Most-watched start ever for ESPN primetime package
· Most-watched cable show of the year (Packers-Bears, 9/27) & Monday Night Football accounts for five most-watched cable programs this fall
FOX
· Most-watched start ever for FOX
· Most-watched Sunday Week 1 telecast on record (Fox national, mostly Packers-Eagles, 9/12)
NBC
· Most-watched start ever for Sunday Night Football
· Most-watched Kickoff Game ever (Vikings-Saints, 9/9) & Sunday night game ever (Cowboys-Redskins, 9/12)
(*estimates pending final viewership numbers for Week 4 CBS single and Fox regional telecasts due Thursday)
Following is the list of 24 NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Sept. 27-Oct. 3:
Week of 9/27–10/3
* *
HH
HH
RTG
Market
Game
Date
RTG
SHR
Rank
Milwaukee
Packers at Bears
9/27/10
55.0
72
1
Pittsburgh
Ravens at Steelers
10/3/10
47.5
73
1
New Orleans
Panthers at Saints
10/3/10
43.5
68
1
Chicago
Bears at Giants
10/3/10
39.3
54
1
Baltimore
Ravens at Steelers
10/3/10
36.1
67
1
Philadelphia
Redskins at Eagles
10/3/10
35.7
55
1
Indianapolis
Colts at Jaguars
10/3/10
35.0
56
1
Washington, DC
Redskins at Eagles
10/3/10
33.0
56
1
Buffalo
Jets at Bills
10/3/10
32.5
55
1
Cincinnati
Bengals at Browns
10/3/10
32.4
58
1
Jacksonville
Colts at Jaguars
10/3/10
30.9
51
1
Cleveland
Bengals at Browns
10/3/10
29.8
54
1
Nashville
Broncos at Titans
10/3/10
29.6
52
1
Denver
Broncos at Titans
10/3/10
25.8
56
1
Charlotte
Panthers at Saints
10/3/10
23.6
47
1
St. Louis
Seahawks at Rams
10/3/10
23.5
47
1
Houston
Texans at Raiders
10/3/10
23.1
44
1
Phoenix
Cardinals at Chargers
10/3/10
21.8
40
1
Seattle
Seahawks at Rams
10/3/10
21.1
46
1
Atlanta
49ers at Falcons
10/3/10
20.1
39
1
Dallas
Redskins at Eagles
10/3/10
17.8
36
1
San Fran-Oakland
49ers at Falcons
10/3/10
16.7
46
1
Minneapolis
Packers at Bears
9/27/10
16.4
25
1
San Diego
Packers at Bears
9/27/10
15.6
26
1
Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company
