People complain about the Pro Bowl and say they won’t watch, but when the numbers come out, especially in the last few years, the ratings show that people do indeed watch the game. According to Nielsen and the following joint press release from NBC and the National Football League, an average of 12.5 million people watched part or all of the game. And the local ratings showed that football traditional markets of New Orleans, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Charlotte were particularly interested. Of course, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisburger and Cam Newton helped to generate local interest in each of the aforementioned respective markets.
The NFL says this was the second most watched Pro Bowl since 2001. Last year’s game on Fox generated 13.4 million viewers.
Your press release.
2012 PRO BOWL ON NBC RANKS AS SECOND MOST-WATCHED NFL ALL-STAR GAME IN MORE THAN A DECADE
INDIANAPOLIS – January 31, 2012 – An average of 12.5 million fans tuned into the 2012 Pro Bowl Sunday on NBC, ranking as the second most-watched NFL All-Star game since 2001 behind last year’s game (13.4 million viewers).
The 2012 Pro Bowl also topped by 14 percent sports’ second-most watched all-star game in the past year (2011 MLB All-Star Game on FOX, 11.0 million viewers).
The top local overnight ratings for Pro Bowl are as follows:
1. New Orleans, 21.8 rating/29 share
2. Milwaukee, 17.6/25
3. Pittsburgh, 17.2/24
4. Charlotte, 12.1/18
5. Norfolk, 11.8/16
6. Cincinnati, 11.7/17
7. Las Vegas, 11.0/18
8. Jacksonville, 10.4/15
9. Sacramento, 10.2/17
10. Nashville, 10.1/14The 2012 Pro Bowl was played the week before the Super Bowl for the third consecutive year.
I’m sure NBC feels this will be a good omen for Super Bowl XLVI.
