NBC's SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Posts Most-Watched, HIghest-Rated Season Ever
By: Caryn Robbins Jan. 06, 2016
NBC's 10th season of SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL in 2015 was both record-setting and memorable, wrapping up this past Sunday night as NBC's most-watched and highest-rated SNF season ever, and on pace to rank as primetime television's #1 show for the fifth consecutive year, based on live plus same day data provided by The Nielsen Company.
The record-setting season began with the most-watched Kickoff Weekend ever, featured a historic battle of unbeatens on Nov. 1 (6-0 Green Bay vs. 6-0 Denver), and celebrated numerous player milestones (Tom Brady's record for QB wins with one team; Drew Brees' 400th career touchdown pass; Peyton Manning tying the NFL record for career QB victories; and Brett Favre's Thanksgiving night halftime "Ring of Honor" ceremony in Green Bay, with a special appearance from Bart Starr), on its way to double-digit domination against its primetime TV competition in viewership, household rating, and in the Adult 18-49 demographic. SNF IS MOST-WATCHED NFL PRIMETIME PACKAGE IN 19 YEARSNBC's SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL averaged 22.5 million viewers in 2015 - the best viewership ever for SNF on NBC, and tops for the NFL's premier primetime package in 19 years (22.7 million for ABC's MNF in 1996). SNF viewership increased 6% from last season (21.3 million viewers), and outpaced its nearest primetime competitor by 28% in the fall
Top Fall 2015 Primetime Programs, Viewership
| Program | Avg. Viewers | SNF Advantage |
| Sunday Night Football | 22.5 million | -- |
| Thursday Night Football* | 17.6 million | 28% |
| NCIS | 16.3 million | 38% |
| Big Bang Theory | 15.7 million | 43% |
(Source: The Nielsen Company, Live + Same Day Viewing, Sept. 7, 2015-Jan. 3, 2016; regularly-scheduled programs)
*8 CBS/NFLN telecasts
- SNF IS HIGHEST-RATED NFL PRIMETIME PACKAGE IN 16 YEARS
SNF averaged a record 13.0/22 household rating, matching the 2010 SNF season as the best for the NFL's premier primetime package in 16 years (13.7/23 for ABC's MNF in 1999). The season rating for SNF increased 4% from 2014 (12.5/21), and topped the second-ranked primetime show by 19% (chart below).
Top Fall 2015 Primetime Programs, U.S. HH Rating
| Program | U.S. HH Rating | SNF Advantage |
| Sunday Night Football | 13.0 | -- |
| Thursday Night Football* | 10.9 | 19% |
| NCIS | 10.1 | 29% |
| Big Bang Theory | 9.5 | 37% |
(Source: The Nielsen Company, Live + Same Day Viewing, Sept. 7, 2015-Jan. 3, 2016; regularly-scheduled programs)
*8 CBS/NFLN telecasts
Videos