NFL Network Had Huge Ratings Spike For End of Lockout Coverage

I’m waiting to go to work and with my computer in my briefcase, I’ll blog from the iPad.

Posting this press release from NFL Network about its ratings for the end of the lockout this week. Compared to the same point last year when NFL Network was just covering training camps, the ratings were up triple digits. Yup. Here’s the release.

NFL NETWORK VIEWERSHIP TRIPLES & NFL.COM TRAFFIC DOUBLES AS FANS FLOCK TO FREE AGENT FRENZY

NFL Network & NFL.com set single-day records on Thursday
Wall-to-wall coverage continues this weekend & from training camps next week

Fans got “Back to Football” this week tuning in and logging on to NFL Network and NFL.com in record numbers since the list of 2011 free agents was released on Monday night.

NFL Network’s coverage of free agency, trades and cuts from Tuesday to Thursday posted a 288 percent increase in average total day viewership over the same time period last year with an average of 186,000 fans tuning in. NFL Network had live coverage from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM ET each day.

In primetime, NFL Network averaged 290,000 viewers over the three days – a 202 percent jump over 2010.

The NFL’s digital media platforms — including NFL.com, NFL Mobile Only From Verizon and other NFL mobile products — posted a 143 percent increase in unique users over last year as 5.7 million fans logged on from Monday through Thursday.

Both properties also set single-day records for Thursday’s coverage. NFL Network averaged 427,000 primetime viewers on Thursday – its best-ever primetime viewership outside of NFL Draft and game coverage. NFL digital media drew 2.6 million unique viewers – its highest single-day traffic ever in July.

Coverage continues on NFL Network with NFL Total Access: Free Agent Frenzy, providing continuous news reports through midnight and possibly later. Live coverage continues this weekend beginning at 9:00 AM ET Saturday with Back to Football: Free Agent Frenzy, followed by NFL Total Access at 7:00 PM ET. NFL.com provides round-the-clock free agency coverage all weekend.

NFL Network’s live daily training camp coverage continues next week (Aug. 1-5) with live look-ins beginning at 9:00 AM ET. Then at 1:00 PM ET each day, NFL Network presents 7 hours of live blanket coverage with reports and interviews from all 32 team sites.

That’s it.

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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.

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