Earlier this week I surmised that CBS was the likely winner in the NFL ratings battle, largely because it aired so many games featuring the undefeated New England Patriots. I also said Fox likely took a ratings hit, because several key NFC matchups were taken by other networks including the NFL Network and NBC. (The big draw Cowboys, usually a staple of Fox's slate of games, appeared on CBS twice, the NFL Network twice, NBC three times and once on ESPN.)
As it turns out, Fox ended up as the surprise NFL ratings winner, drawing an average of 17.1 million viewers this season, the most in 12 years. The average household rating of 10.7 and household share of 23 was the highest for the NFL on Fox since 1999, when it drew an 11.0/25.
Fox beat CBS head-to-head by about 4 percent, even though CBS aired nine games featuring the undefeated New England Patriots, including their games against the Cowboys and Colts. Fox, which is permitted to air games only at 1 p.m. ET and 4:15 p.m. ET on Sundays, even beat out NBC's Sunday Night Football, which had the advantage of a flex-schedule and prime-time slot. Fox's victory over NBC is the first time that daytime broadcasts beat out prime-time games.
From Fox's press release: "Despite losing its No. 1 audience draw, the 13-3 NFC East Champion Dallas Cowboys, eight times and losing an unprecedented 11 marquee match-ups to NBC, remarkably, the NFL on FOX this season became the first Sunday afternoon broadcast network ever to out-rate all other NFL television carriers, including the over-the-air prime time network, in the same season."
This begs the question: how did Fox come out on top?
Well, the network did have its share of high-rated games, including the Nov. 18 Redskins-Cowboys game, the Packers-Lions game on Thanksgiving Day and key Week 17 games involving the Redskins, Vikings and Saints. Fox also had its share of games involving the Eagles, Giants and Bears, which all attracted big viewers.
Also, while CBS televised a number of Patriots games, remember that many of those games were blowouts that aren't necessarily conducive to getting big ratings.
Comments (1)
No offence U.S.A, but I just watched a game of gridiron on tv and I have to be honest, Ive never seen such a boring padded up bunch of panseys in all my life. If you really want to 'Beef up your ratings' start showing a bit of rugby 'league'. These men are the true modern day gladiators. Watch the game between Leeds rhinos and Russell Crowes south Sydney rabbitos at Jacksonville on the 26th. There really is no comparison between the two games. Your boys are a laughing stock to the rest of the world with the amount of padding they wear and the time spent commentating!
Posted by michael steele | January 25, 2008 8:41 PM