Yesterday, I linked to a post stating that the preliminary numbers for NBC’s Sunday Night Football would lead to a final viewership number of over 20 million people. Now, the numbers are in and according to Nielsen, Green Bay-Atlanta received an audience of 22 million viewers. The rating of 13.4 and a 21 share was 30% higher than last year’s Week 5 game which was Philadelphia at San Francisco.
With the improved viewership over last week’s New York Jets-Baltimore game, Sunday Night Football is now averaging over 21 million people through five weeks and six games aired.
Of course, Green Bay-Atlanta was the most watched and highest rated program for the week in the primetime ratings. And while NBC is crowing about Sunday’s ratings, it probably won’t next week as the game for Week 6 will be the Chicago Bears taking on the lowly Minnesota Vikings.
Here’s the press release from NBC.
22.0 MILLION WATCH PACKERS-FALCONS ON SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL ON NBC
SNF Most-Watched Primetime Program of the Week
Viewership up 30% From Last Year’s Week 5 Game
Five-Week Average of 23.0 Million Viewers up 6% From Last Year; Best in 6-Year SNF History
Sunday Night Football is No. 1 Show of the Primetime Television Season in Key Adult Demo*NEW YORK – October 11, 2011 – Packers-Falcons on Sunday Night Football was the most-watched primetime program of the week; the most-watched program on Sunday night for the fifth straight week; up 30 percent from last year’s Week 5 game and currently stands as the No. 1 show of the primetime television season* in key Adult 18-49 demo, according to official national data released today by The Nielsen Company.
The game on NBC, in which the Green Bay Packers remained undefeated with a 25-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, drew 22.0 million viewers, up 30 percent from last year’s Week 5 game (Eagles-49ers, 16.9 million) and 38 percent more than the 2009 Week 5 game (Colts-Titans, 16.0 million). Packers-Falcons marked the most-watched Week 5 game in the six-year history of SNF.
The household rating for Packers-Falcons of 13.4/21 is up 30 percent from last year’s Week 5 game (10.3/17) and up 38 percent from the 2009 Week 5 game (9.7/16).
Sunday Night Football was the most-watched primetime program of the week and the No. 1 primetime program of the week in household rating and all key adult and male demographics including Adults 18-49, the coveted advertiser demographic.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL VIEWERSHIP FOR WEEK 5 GAMES:
2011 Packers-Falcons 22.0 million
2010 Eagles-49ers 16.9 million, up 30 percent
2009 Colts-Titans 16.0 million, up 38 percent
2008 Steelers-Jaguars 14.2 million, up 55 percent
2007 Bears-Packers 18.3 million, up 20 percent
2006 Steelers-Chargers 15.1 million, up 46 percentSNF STARTS STRONG: Through the first five weeks of the NFL season (five Sunday’s and one Thursday), Sunday Night Football is averaging 23.0 million viewers, up six percent from last year (21.8 million) and the most through this point in the season in the six-year history of SNF.
- The five-week Adult 18-49 demo rating of 9.4 places Sunday Night Football as the No. 1 show of the primetime television season in the key advertiser demographic.
- Additionally, SNF currently stands No. 1 among all primetime programs for the television season among Adults 18-34 and all male demographics and No. 2 among viewers and households only behind CBS’ Two and a Half Men.
*NOTE: The primetime television season does not include the first three NBC primetime games (Thursday night NFL Kickoff Opener and first two SNF games). Including those three games, SNF is the most-watched and highest-rated show on primetime television.
- The five-week average household rating of 13.8/22 is five percent higher than last year’s 13.1/22 and the highest through this point in the season in the six-year history of SNF.
The critically acclaimed Football Night in America is averaging 9.4 million viewers and a household rating of 5.8/10 (7:30-8:15 p.m. ET) through the first five weeks, up 19 percent and 18 percent, respectively, from last year’s first five weeks.
SNF 6-FOR-6: With 22.0 million viewers for Packers-Falcons, Sunday Night Football starts the season six-for-six versus its competition. This continues a trend for SNF dominating Sunday nights. Last season, “Sunday Night Football” was the No. 1 show all 18 nights (100 percent) vs. its competition (16 Sundays, one Tuesday and one Thursday).
- 2011 – 6 of 6 (Five Sundays, one Thursday – 100 percent)
- 2010 – 18 of 18 (16 Sundays, one Tuesday and one Thursday – 100 percent)
- 2009 – 15 of 16 Sundays (94 percent)
- 2008 – 13 of 16 Sundays (81 percent)
- 2007 – 11 of 16 Sundays (69 percent)
- 2006 – nine of 16 Sundays (56 percent)
TOP 10 METERED MARKETS FOR PACKERS-FALCONS:
1. Milwaukee, 51.2/66
2. Atlanta, 28.0/40
3. New Orleans, 19.4/26
4. Las Vegas, 19.3/31
5. Minneapolis, 18.5/29
6. Richmond, 17.5/26
T7. Nashville, 16.7/24
T7. Norfolk, 16.7/24
9. Jacksonville, 16.6/26
10. Chicago, 16.5/26
The amazing thing about the numbers was the rating in Milwaukee where the city saw a 51.2 rating and a 66 share as you see above. Quite astounding that 66% of all TV’s in Milwaukee were tuned into the game.
