"NBC SNF" AVERAGES 1.2 MILLION MORE VIEWERS THAN ABC MNF IN 2005; NBC IS THE HIGHEST-RATED AND MOST-WATCHED NFL BROADCASTER
"NBC SNF" AVERAGES 1.2 MILLION MORE VIEWERS THAN ABC MNF IN 2005; NBC IS THE HIGHEST-RATED AND MOST-WATCHED NFL BROADCASTER
"NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" MOST WATCHED PRIMETIME NFL SERIES SINCE 2000
NFL's New Broadcast Package Boosts Ratings Across Every Network
NEW YORK � Jan. 3, 2007 � "NBC Sunday Night Football" wrapped up its inaugural season averaging 17.5 million viewers, 1.2 million viewers better than ABC Monday Night Football in 2005 and the best viewership number for the network primetime NFL package in six years (18.5 million on ABC in 2000), according to Nielsen Media Research.
"The NFL has again proven itself to be one of the most valuable properties in television," said Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics. "Every network this season has seen ratings increases for its NFL package� an incredible accomplishment� almost unheard of in this time of audience fragmentation. There were industry skeptics who didn't believe we could successfully shift viewer interest from Monday night to Sunday night. But they were both surprised, and delighted, when they saw that 'NBC Sunday Night Football' created a new destination to reach viewers, especially men, and changed what was 36 years of traditional viewing habits on Sunday and Monday nights."
Ebersol added: "NBC Sunday Night Football also showed terrific gains in the key adults 18-49 demographic, growing six percent versus last year's Monday Night Football average and also growing six percent among Men 18-49. It's been a tremendous success."
NBC HIGHEST RATED AND MOST WATCHED NFL BROADCASTER
NBC finished its first-ever "Sunday Night Football" season averaging an 11.0 household rating and 18 share, up 2 percent from ABC MNF last season (10.8/18). "Sunday Night Football" drew 14 percent more viewers than CBS through 12/24 (17.5 million vs. 15.4 million), five percent more than Fox through 12/24 (16.7 million) and 42 percent higher than ESPN (12.3 million). "SNF" rated 11 percent higher than CBS's NFL average this season through 12/24 (9.9), three percent higher than Fox (10.7) and 34 percent higher than ESPN's U.S. HH rating (8.2).
NFL IS THE WINNER: EVERY NETWORK UP OVER 2005
Based on network averages through 12/24, every NFL broadcaster will finish the season ahead of 2005:
NBC (through 12/31): 17.5 million viewers (+7% from 16.3 million), 11.0 household rating (+2% from 10.8 on ABC)
Fox: 16.7 million viewers (+6% from 15.7 million), 10.7 household rating (+7% from 10.0)
CBS: 15.4 million viewers (+2% from 15.1 million), 9.9 household rating (+1% from 9.8)
ESPN: 12.3 million viewers (+38% from 8.9 million), 8.2 household rating (+37% from 6.0)
Note: Final season to date averages for CBS and Fox will be available Friday.
"NBC SNF" UP IN ADULTS 18-49, MEN 18-49 OVER 2005
"Sunday Night Football" also showed big gains in the key adults 18-49 demographic, growing 6 percent versus "ABC MNF" in 2005 (6.8 vs. 6.4) and also growing six percent among Men 18-49 (9.2 vs. 8.7).
"SNF" UP 119 PERCENT OVER NBC IN 2005
"NBC SNF" averaged a 6.8 in A18-49, up 119 percent from the network's Sunday night average in the same time period a year ago (3.1 for 8:30-11 pm) and averaged 73 percent more viewers in the time period (17.5 million vs. 10.1 million).
"NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" TOP 20 METERED MARKETS
FULL 2006 SEASON TO DATE:
1. Denver 21.8/32
2. Indianapolis 18.3/27
3. Dallas 17.0/25
4. San Diego 16.9/28
5. Las Vegas 16.1/25
6. Pittsburgh 15.8/23
7. Charlotte 14.7/22
8. Jacksonville 14.5/21
9. Norfolk 14.4/21
10. Chicago 14.0/22
11. Seattle 13.8/24
12. Nashville 13.4/19
t13. Tampa 13.3/20
t13. Richmond 13.3/20
t13. Greensboro 13.3/20
t16. Philadelphia 13.2/20
t16. Milwaukee 13.2/19
t18. Orlando 13.0/19
t18. Memphis 13.0/18
t20. Washington D.C. 12.8/21
t20. Kansas City 12.8/19
t20. Oklahoma City 12.8/18
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