FOX NFL National Telecast is Most Watched Show on TV

By: Dec. 27, 2012
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An NFL game was the most-watched show on TV last week (Dec. 17-23) for the 16th time in 16 weeks of the NFL season with the FOX national telecast (mostly New York Giants-Baltimore Ravens) topping all sports and entertainment competition with 24.2 million viewers.

Locally, an NFL game was the highest-rated show in all 30 NFL markets last week, marking the second consecutive week and the record fifth time this season that NFL games topped local ratings in all NFL markets. Previously there were four "30 for 30" weeks in the full 2010 and 2011 seasons. NFL games have topped local ratings 93 percent of the time this season (up from 90 percent at this point in '11).

For the season, NFL games rank as 29 of the 30 most-watched TV shows since Labor Day. Following are the most-watched programs this fall:

Program Viewers
1. FOX Thanksgiving Game (Redskins-Cowboys), 11/22 28.7 million
2. NBC Sunday Night Football (Steelers-Broncos), 9/9 27.6 million
3. CBS Thanksgiving Game (Texans-Lions), 11/22 27.3 million
4. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-Cowboys), 10/28 26.9 million
5. CBS Sunday National (mostly Steelers-Cowboys), 12/16 26.9 million
6. FOX Sunday National (mostly 49ers-Packers), 9/9 26.4 million
7. FOX Sunday National (mostly 49ers-Saints), 11/25 24.9 million
8. CBS Sunday National (mostly Broncos-Patriots), 10/7 24.5 million
9. FOX Sunday National (mostly Saints-Giants), 12/9 24.5 million
10. FOX Sunday National (mostly Cowboys-Eagles), 11/11 24.3 million
11. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-Ravens),12/23 24.2 million
12. CBS Sunday National (mostly Steelers-Giants), 11/4 24.2 million
13. CBS Sunday National (mostly Texans-Broncos), 9/23 24.0 million
14. NBC Wed. Night Kickoff Game (Cowboys-Giants), 9/5 23.9 million
15. CBS Sunday National (Indy-NE & SD-Den), 11/18 23.6 million
16. NBC Sunday Night Football (49ers-Patriots), 12/16 23.2 million
17. CBS Sunday National (mostly Steelers-Ravens), 12/2 23.0 million
18. CBS Sunday National (mostly Jets-Patriots), 10/21 23.0 million
19. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-49ers), 10/14 22.8 million
20. NBC Sunday Night Football (Giants-Eagles), 9/30 22.8 million
21. NBC Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, 11/22 22.4 million
22. FOX Sunday National (mostly Saints-Packers), 9/30 22.3 million
23. NBC Sunday Night Football (Cowboys-Falcons), 11/4 21.8 million
24. FOX Sunday Single (mostly NYG-ATL & GB-Chi), 12/16 21.4 million
25. NBC Sunday Night Football (Lions-Packers), 12/9 21.4 million
26. NBC Sunday Night Football (Lions-49ers), 9/16 21.3 million
27. NBC Sunday Night Football (Patriots-Ravens), 9/23 21.3 million
28. FOX Sunday Single (mostly Minn-GB & TB-Den), 12/2 20.9 million
29. NBC Sunday Night Football (Texans-Bears), 11/11 20.9 million
30. NBC Sunday Night Football (Packers-Giants), 11/25 20.9 million

Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company

Following is the list of all 30 NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Dec. 17-23:

Week of 12/17-23

HH

HH

RTG
Market Game

Date

RTG

SHR

Rank
Pittsburgh Bengals at Steelers

12/23/12

40.7

70

1
Milwaukee Titans at Packers

12/23/12

40.4

71

1
New Orleans Saints at Cowboys

12/23/12

40.1

66

1
Baltimore Giants at Ravens

12/23/12

34.5

56

1
Denver Browns at Broncos

12/23/12

34.4

66

1
Seattle 49ers at Seahawks

12/23/12

34.2

64

1
Minneapolis Vikings at Texans

12/23/12

33.4

69

1
Cincinnati Bengals at Steelers

12/23/12

33.0

59

1
Boston Patriots at Jaguars

12/23/12

32.5

63

1
Indianapolis Colts at Chiefs

12/23/12

31.0

56

1
Washington, DC Redskins at Eagles

12/23/12

28.0

57

1
Chicago Bears at Cardinals

12/23/12

27.8

53

1
Atlanta Falcons at Lions

12/22/12

27.7

47

1
Dallas Saints at Cowboys

12/23/12

27.2

57

1
Kansas City Colts at Chiefs

12/23/12

25.6

52

1
Buffalo Bills at Dolphins

12/23/12

23.7

44

1
San Fran-Oakland 49ers at Seahawks

12/23/12

23.7

48

1
Philadelphia Redskins at Eagles

12/23/12

23.6

47

1
Houston Vikings at Texans

12/23/12

23.3

49

1
Cleveland Browns at Broncos

12/23/12

23.0

42

1
Detroit Falcons at Lions

12/22/12

22.2

36

1
Charlotte Raiders at Panthers

12/23/12

21.6

44

1
St. Louis Rams at Buccaneers

12/23/12

19.7

41

1
Phoenix Bears at Cardinals

12/23/12

19.6

41

1
Jacksonville Patriots at Jaguars

12/23/12

17.2

34

1
New York Giants at Ravens

12/23/12

16.9

31

1
Nashville Titans at Packers

12/23/12

16.5

30

1
San Diego Chargers at Jets

12/23/12

16.3

38

1
Miami Bills at Dolphins

12/23/12

15.4

37

1
Tampa Bengals at Steelers

12/23/12

13.4

30

1

Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company



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