On Sunday, NBC had an audience of 10.7 million watch part or all of the San Diego Chargers-Dallas Cowboys exhibition NFL game on Sunday Night Football. That’s a very impressive figure considering the game doesn’t count in the standings. And it was the most watched primetime program of the week on network television. Overall, the game received a 6.4/11 rating which is slightly down from the final 6.7/12 for the Minnesota Vikings-San Francisco 49ers game that NBC aired in the same spot last year.
Four of the top six rated markets for the game could be considered Dallas Cowboys territory, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and Oklahoma City.
We have the press release from NBC Sports.
10.7 MILLION WATCH “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” PRESEASON GAME
SNF No. 1 Show of the Week
Five Most-Watched NFL Preseason Games in Last Five Years All on SNFNEW YORK – August 23, 2011 – The Chargers-Cowboys “Sunday Night Football” preseason game was seen by 10.7 million viewers, making it the most-watched NFL preseason game this season and the most-watched primetime program of the week, according to official national ratings released today by The Nielsen Company.
The 10.7 million viewers places this game as the third most-watched NFL preseason game in the last five years, with all five being “Sunday Night Football” games.
MOST-WATCHED NFL PRESEASON GAMES SINCE 2006:
1. Aug. 8, 2010 – Hall of Fame Game – Bengals-Cowboys, 11.4 million
2. Aug. 22, 2010 – Vikings-49ers, 10.8 million
3. Aug. 21, 2011 – Chargers-Cowboys, 10.7 million (Sunday’s Game)
4. Aug. 6, 2006 – Hall of Fame Game – Raiders-Eagles, 10.6 million
5. Aug. 30, 2009 – Bears-Broncos, 10.4 millionSNF IS MOST-WATCHED SHOW OF THE WEEK: The Chargers-Cowboys “Sunday Night Football” preseason game ranked as the most-watched primetime program of the week with 10.7 million viewers. It was also No. 1 in Household Rating (6.4), Adults 18-49 (3.7), Adults 18-34 (2.9), Adults 25-54 (4.2), Men 18-49 (4.9), Men 18-34 (3.7) and Men 25-54 (5.6).
SNF CONTINUES TO DOMINATE SUNDAY NIGHTS: 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).
- 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)
The game earned a 6.4/11 household rating down slightly from last year’s 6.7/12 for the Vikings-49ers game, which featured Brett Favre at quarterback for the Vikings.
Top 10 Metered Markets for Chargers-Cowboys:
1. Dallas, 23.7/38
2. San Diego, 22.2/37
3. San Antonio, 15.1/23
4. Austin, 14.7/25
5. Houston, 12.5/20
6. Oklahoma City, 11.7/17
7. Albuquerque, 10.4/17
8. Richmond, 10.3/15
9. Norfolk, 10.2/15
10. Nashville, 10.0/14
More coming up.
