To say that the NFL dominated the ratings in Week 15 would be like saying humans need oxygen. But to look at the numbers and see that all 30 of the NFL markets saw their local games top their ratings, a clean sweep, that’s amazing.
Milwaukee was the top-rated market for the Kansas City-Green Bay game which saw a local rating of 49.0 and a whopping 75 share.
New Orleans was next with a 48.7/72 for Saints-Vikings.
And the list goes on from there. Amazing numbers for the NFL and one of the reasons why the networks were all willing to pay $1 billion for their new rights fees starting in 2014. We have the press release directly from the National Football League.
NFL GAMES TOP RATINGS IN ALL 30 MARKETS
Patriots-Broncos on CBS Most-Watched Show of the Week
As NFL teams make their final playoff pushes, more fans are tuning in. The four most-watched programs of the fall TV season are all NFL games played since Thanksgiving.
This past week (Dec. 12 – 18), the CBS Sunday national telecast (mostly Patriots-Broncos) was the most-watched show on television drawing 29.7 million viewers.
Following are the most-watched programs of the fall TV season:
Program Viewers 1. CBS Thanksgiving (Dolphins-Cowboys), 11/24 30.9 million 2. FOX Thanksgiving (Packers-Lions), 11/24 30.2 million 3. FOX Sunday National (mostly Packers-Giants), 12/11 29.8 million 4. CBS Sunday National (mostly Patriots-Broncos), 12/18 29.7 million 5. CBS’ Two and a Half Men (Season Premiere), 9/19 28.7 million 6. FOX Sunday National (mostly Cowboys-Patriots), 10/16 28.4 million 7. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-Patriots), 11/6 28.2 million 8. NBC Thursday Night Kickoff Game (Saints-Packers), 9/8 27.1 million 9. CBS Sunday National (mostly Patriots-Eagles), 11/27 26.3 million 10. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-49ers), 11/13 25.9 million In addition, NFL games topped the ratings in all 30 NFL markets for the week of Dec. 12 – 18:
Week of 12/12-12/18
HH
HH
RTG
Market Game Date
RTG
SHR
Rank
Milwaukee Packers at Chiefs 12/18/11
49.0
75
1
New Orleans Saints at Vikings 12/18/11
48.7
72
1
Boston Patriots at Broncos 12/18/11
42.7
68
1
Denver Patriots at Broncos 12/18/11
40.8
73
1
Baltimore Ravens at Chargers 12/18/11
37.1
53
1
Kansas City Packers at Chiefs 12/18/11
35.2
63
1
San Diego Ravens at Chargers 12/18/11
31.8
52
1
Cleveland Browns at Cardinals 12/18/11
31.0
52
1
Jacksonville Patriots at Broncos 12/18/11
30.9
49
1
Cincinnati Bengals at Rams 12/18/11
29.6
56
1
Philadelphia Jets at Eagles 12/18/11
29.0
49
1
Indianapolis Titans at Colts 12/18/11
28.5
53
1
Chicago Seahawks at Bears 12/18/11
28.1
56
1
Nashville Titans at Colts 12/18/11
27.5
47
1
Detroit Lions at Raiders 12/18/11
27.3
46
1
Minneapolis Saints at Vikings 12/18/11
26.8
58
1
Seattle Rams at Seahawks* 12/12/11
26.4
43
1
Charlotte Panthers at Texans 12/18/11
25.9
50
1
Pittsburgh Patriots at Broncos 12/18/11
24.0
39
1
Phoenix Browns at Cardinals 12/18/11
22.3
41
1
Houston Panthers at Texans 12/18/11
22.2
47
1
Washington, DC Redskins at Giants 12/18/11
21.8
49
1
Tampa Patriots at Broncos 12/18/11
19.9
37
1
Dallas Patriots at Broncos 12/18/11
18.9
36
1
San Fran-Oakland Lions at Raiders 12/18/11
18.0
34
1
Atlanta Patriots at Broncos 12/18/11
18.0
34
1
St. Louis Rams at Seahawks* 12/12/11
17.7
27
1
Buffalo Patriots at Broncos 12/18/11
17.7
28
1
New York Redskins at Giants 12/18/11
17.3
38
1
Miami Dolphins at Bills 12/18/11
15.9
36
1
* Local affiliate & ESPN combined
Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company
That will do it.
