Fox Says Atlanta-New York Giants is the Highest Rated 1 p.m. Sunday Wild Card Playoff Game Since 2004

Fox has given us a press release about Sunday’s Atlanta-New York Giants game. According to Fox, the game received a 17.3 rating with a 36 share. Fox says that’s up 1% from last year’s 1 p.m. Wild Card game which pitted Baltimore against Kansas City on CBS. In addition, the game saw an average of 27.7 million viewers.

Fox adds that yesterday’s game which became a 24-2 blowout for the Giants is the highest rated early afternoon Sunday NFL Wild Card Playoff on any network since 2004’s 19.1/39 between Seattle and Green Bay which went to overtime.

Locally, Atlanta received a 30.6/52 which was the highest among all metered markets. Milwaukee was next with a 29.5/52. New York had a 24.8/48.

We have the press release from Fox Sports.

NFL ON FOX SCORES WITH GIANTS/FALCONS WILD CARD

New York, NY – NFL on FOX’s kick-off to the 2012 playoffs, featuring a matchup between the New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons, scored an impressive 17.3/36 household rating/share (27.7 million viewers), according to Nielsen Media Research. The rating for yesterday’s dominating performance by the Giants defense was up +1% over last year’s comparable 17.1/35 (28.4 million) for the early Wildcard Game on CBS and ranks as the highest-rated 1:00 PM ET Sunday Wildcard game on any network since 2004’s 19.1/39 (29.3 million) for an overtime game between Seattle and Green Bay on FOX.

Yesterday’s game opened with a 13.4/30 (21.1 million viewers) at 1:06 PM ET, and grew steadily throughout the broadcast peaking at a 19.3/38 (31.1 million viewers) at 3:00 PM ET. As the New York Giants opened up a huge lead over the Atlanta Falcons, viewership for the final half-hour (3:30 – 4:00 PM ET) declined to an 18.7/37 (30.5 million viewers).

Atlanta led all markets with a 30.6/52 while New York averaged a 24.8/48 for Giants/Falcons. With the winner of yesterday’s game facing the Green Bay Packers next Sunday, Milwaukee had a vested interest in the game led all non-home markets with a 29.5/52, while New Orleans tallied a 29.1/44.

FOX Sports’ exclusive coverage of the NFC Divisional Playoffs continues this weekend beginning with the New Orleans Saints traveling to San Francisco to take on the 49ers. Coverage begins at 3:30 PM ET on Saturday, Jan 14. On Sunday Jan. 15, FOX NFL SUNDAY kicks-off at 4:00 PM ET before New York Giants take on the Green Bay Packers from Lambeau Field.  Coverage of the NFC Championship Game begins at 6:00 PM ET on Sunday, Jan. 22.

Back later.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

Quantcast