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[09/11/06 - 12:00 AM]
NBC Sunday Night Football' Opener Outrates Every Monday Night Football Opener Since 2000
[via press release from NBC]

'NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL' OPENER OUTRATES EVERY MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL OPENER SINCE 2000

14.3 Rating Up 10% from 2005

NEW YORK � Sept. 11, 2006 � Last night's "NBC Sunday Night Football" debut scored a 14.3 household rating/23 share, outrating every "Monday Night Football" opener since the highly anticipated debut of Dennis Miller in 2000, according to fast national ratings provided by Nielsen Media Research. The showdown between older brother Peyton Manning and the younger Eli (8:15-11:15 p.m. ET), won by the Indianapolis Colts 26-21 at Giants Stadium, was also up ten percent from last year's "MNF" opener (13.0).

The only "MNF" game in the past five years to rate higher featured the undefeated Indianapolis Colts versus the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers last season (14.8 on 11/28/2005).

After two games, "NBC Sunday Night Football" is averaging a 13.5/22, 10 percent higher than "MNF" after two games in 2005 (12.3/21 � averages include Thursday night season openers). This is the best two game average for the NFL's network primetime package since 2000 (13.8/24).

Viewership numbers will be available later this afternoon.

"NBC Sunday Night Football" Week One Top Metered Markets
1. Indianapolis 34.2/46
2. Memphis 23.5/31
3. Nashville 22.4/32
4. Pittsburgh 21.7/30
5. Denver 20.2/30
6. Richmond 18.6/27
7. Orlando 18.5/26
8. West Palm Beach 18.4/28
9. Charlotte 18.2/27
10. Tampa 18.1/27
11. Cincinnati 17.9/27
12. New York 17.8/26

[EDITOR'S NOTE: What follows is the afternoon update with the final national Nielsen ratings.]

UPDATED: 'NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL' OPENER OUTRATES EVERY MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL OPENER SINCE 2000

14.3 Rating Up 10% from 2005

UPDATED WITH VIEWERSHIP INFORMATION

NEW YORK � Sept. 11, 2006 � Last night's "NBC Sunday Night Football" debut scored a 14.3 household rating/23 share, outrating every "Monday Night Football" opener since the highly anticipated debut of Dennis Miller in 2000, according to fast national ratings provided by Nielsen Media Research. The showdown between older brother Peyton Manning and the younger Eli (8:15-11:15 p.m. ET), won by the Indianapolis Colts 26-21 at Giants Stadium, was also up ten percent from last year's "MNF" opener (13.0).

The only "MNF" game in the past five years to rate higher featured the undefeated Indianapolis Colts versus the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers last season (14.8 on 11/28/2005).

Last night's game averaged 22.7 million viewers � up 16% from last season's "MNF" opener, and the best viewership number for any primetime regular-season game since the 2000 opener (22.9 million).

50 million total, unduplicated viewers watched last night's "NBC Sunday Night Football," the highest total for a primetime opening game since the 1996 "MNF" opener.

After two games, "NBC Sunday Night Football" is averaging a 13.5/22, 10 percent higher than "MNF" after two games in 2005 (12.3/21 � averages include Thursday night season openers). This is the best two game average for the NFL's network primetime package since 2000 (13.8/24).

Next week and in the weeks thereafter, final national ratings for "NBC Sunday Night Football" will be available Tuesdays.

"NBC Sunday Night Football" Week One Top Metered Markets
1. Indianapolis 34.2/46
2. Memphis 23.5/31
3. Nashville 22.4/32
4. Pittsburgh 21.7/30
5. Denver 20.2/30
6. Richmond 18.6/27
7. Orlando 18.5/26
8. West Palm Beach 18.4/28
9. Charlotte 18.2/27
10. Tampa 18.1/27
11. Cincinnati 17.9/27
12. New York 17.8/26





  [september 2006]  
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· MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (ESPN)
· SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (NBC)




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