Despite having a twenty minute gap for the coverage of President Obama’s speech at the memorial for the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, Sunday Night Football on NBC drew 23.2 million viewers. The San Francisco-New England game seemed to be well in hand in the third quarter as the Niners went up 31-3, but the Patriots tied it and it all turned out to be exciting until the very end.
Overall, the rating ended at 13.9 with a 22 share. NBC says that’s up 38% from last year’s Week 15 game on the network (Baltimore at San Diego). The viewership is up 40% from 2011.
The top five local markets for the game were Boston, Providence, Sacramento, San Francisco and Las Vegas.
The rating omits the 20 minute period when NBC cut away from SNF to President Obama’s speech in Newtown, CT.
Sunday Night Football is averaging 21.0 million viewers for the primetime season and that is tied with last season.
Here’s the press release from NBC.
23.2 MILLION WATCH 49ERS-PATRIOTS ON “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” ON NBC
Sunday’s Game is up 40% From Week 15 Game in 2011, and is 2nd Most-Watched SNF Game on NBC This Season
Sunday Night Football on NBC is Most-Watched Primetime Show of the Week and No. 1 Primetime Program of the Television Season
For Second Straight Season, SNF on NBC is No. 1 Primetime Show among Viewers, Household Rating and All Key Adult and Male Demographics
SNF on NBC Averaging 21.0 Million Viewers This Season, Even with 2011NEW YORK – December 18, 2012 – Sunday Night Football on NBC, featuring the 49ers 41-34 victory over the Patriots, drew 23.2 million viewers, up 40% from last year’s Week 15 game (Ravens-Chargers, 16.6 million). It is the second most-watched SNF game this season.
Additionally, Sunday Night Football was the No. 1 show on Sunday night, and @SNFonNBC remains the No. 1 show of the primetime television season among viewers, households and all key adult and male demographics. Additionally, SNF ranks No. 2 among primetime programs for women 18-34.
- This marks the second consecutive season that Sunday Night Football is the No. 1 show of the primetime television season. Last season marked the first time a sports series was the No.1 show of the primetime television season.
Source: Nielsen Media Research Live + Same Day 9/24-12/16/12
NOTE: The primetime television season began on Monday, Sept. 24 and does not include NBC’s Wednesday night opening game or the first three Sunday Night Football games of the season. Those four games averaged 23.5 million viewers.
49ERS-PATRIOTS: Sunday’s game (8:31 p.m. – 12:01 a.m. ET) on NBC, in which the 49ers defeated the Patriots, 41-34, after leading 31-3 in the third quarter, drew 23.2 million viewers, up 40% from last year’s Week 15 SNF game (16.6 million for Ravens-Chargers). It is the second most-watched Sunday Night Football game on NBC this season, only trailing the SNF opening game (Steelers-Broncos, 27.6 million).
- The household rating of 13.9/22 for Sunday’s game is up 38% from last year’s Week 15 SNF game (10.1/16), and is the third highest-rated SNF game this season.
- The 49ers-Patriots Sunday Night Football broadcast on NBC was the most-watched and highest-rated primetime show on Sunday Night.
- NOTE: From 8:36-8:56 p.m. ET, NBC News aired President Obama addressing the interfaith service in Newtown, Conn. This 20-minute gap was not included in Nielsen’s final Sunday Night Football rating.
SNF THROUGH 15 WEEKS: Through 15 weeks, Sunday Night Football on NBC is averaging 21.0 million viewers, tied with 2011 as the second most-watched in SNF’s seven-year history on NBC. The 15-week (17-game) household rating of 12.6/20 is just one percent below last year’s 12.7/20.
Sunday Night Football on NBC has now surpassed 20.5 million 10 times, tying 2010 for the most in the seven-year history of @SNFonNBC.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL ON NBC THROUGH 15 WEEKS:
YEAR
Viewers 2+ HH Rating/Share
2012
21.0 million, 12.6/20
2011
21.0 million, 12.7/20
2010
21.9 million, 13.1/21
2009
19.6 million, 11.9/19
2008
16.6 million, 10.2/16
2007
16.1 million, 10.1/16
2006
17.4 million, 11.2/18
TOP 10 METERED MARKETS FOR 49ERS-PATRIOTS:
1. Boston
36.8/54
2. Providence
31.4/45
3. Sacramento
26.9/42
4. San Francisco
26.8/47
5. Las Vegas
20.4/30
6. Seattle
20.1/35
7. New Orleans
19.3/26
8. Milwaukee
18.8/28
9. Denver
18.0/29
10. Norfolk
17.7/25
That will do it.
