Last season, the NFL tied a record for its lowest-rated regular season ever on the broadcast networks. “Monday Night Football” ratings dipped to half what they were at their peak, and the regular-season average on Fox, ABC and CBS has been flat or falling for four straight years.
But this may be the year that ratings finally begin perking up, if opening weekend is any indication. NBC’s two primetime games posted impressive ratings, and CBS and Fox’s Sunday averages were up over opening weekend 2005.
If ratings continue at this pace, 2006 could become just the third year out of the past 12 where ratings improve over the previous year, according to numbers from SportsBusinessDaily.
The NFL season opener on NBC Thursday averaged a 12.6 household rating, up 8 percent over last year’s Thursday opener on ABC, which averaged an 11.7. The 19.3 million total viewers marked the most-watched season opener since the NFL began starting the season on Thursdays three years ago.
Sunday’s “Sunday Night Football” kickoff outrated every “Monday Night Football” opener since 2000, averaging a 14.3 rating and up 10 percent over last year’s “MNF” debut, which averaged a 13.0. ESPN's "MNF" also drew record crowds (see News Shorts).
CBS averaged an 8.9 rating for its regional coverage, up 3 percent over last year’s 8.6.
And Fox’s week one national game, the Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars, averaged a 14.3 household rating, Fox’s best ever for an opening game and up 4 percent over last year’s 13.7.
What drove the ratings increase? Apart from massive hype over NBC’s return to carrying the NFL after eight years, there are also several storylines that could keep viewers tuning in in greater numbers all season.
One is the number of marquee players moving to new teams. Former Viking Daunte Culpepper made his debut with the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night, former Eagle Terrell Owens joined the Cowboys Sunday, and former Charger Drew Brees led the New Orleans Saints to an opening win.
Another is the much-hyped rookies joining the league, including Saints running back and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush and Tennessee Titans backup QB Vince Young.
Finally, with millions of people playing fantasy football, the focus on individual players’ accomplishments has become intense, meaning that viewers will tune in to games just to see how players on their fantasy teams performed.
Meanwhile, in broadcast ratings for the week ended Sept. 10:
Among adults 18-49, Fox barely edged NBC with a 3.6/10 to the latter’s 3.5/10, followed by ABC at 2.6/8, CBS at 2.4/7, Univision at 1.6/5, the WB at 0.6/2, Telemundo at 0.4/1, and Telefutura, and UPN at 0.3/1
Among adults 18-34, Fox again held the top spot with a 3.5/12, followed by NBC at 2.9/10, ABC at 2.2/7, Univision at 1.8/6, CBS at 1.7/6, the WB at 0.6/2, Telemundo at 0.4/1, and Telefutura and UPN at 0.3/1.
Among adults 25-54, NBC led at 4.0/10, followed by Fox at 3.8/10, ABC at 3.0/8, CBS at 2.9/8, Univision at 1.6/4, the WB at 0.7/2, Telemundo and UPN at 0.4/1, and Telefutura at 0.2/1.
Top five (18-49s): 1. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 8.8, 2. NBC’s “NFL Thursday Special” 7.8, 3. Fox’s “House” 7.2, 4. Fox’s “The Simpsons” 5.3, 5. ABC’s “Saturday Night Football,” Fox’s “Family Guy” 4.8
Top five (total viewers): 1. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 22.57 million, 2. Fox’s “House” 19.65 million, 3. NBC’s “NFL Thursday Special” 19.2 million, 4. Fox’s “Standoff” 13.63 million, 5. ABC’s “Saturday Night Football” 13.27 million
Bottom five (18-49s): tie-105. UPN’s “Cuts,” UPN’s “Eve,” UPN’s “Veronica Mars,” UPN’s “Veronica Mars 8pm,” UPN’s “Love, Inc.” 0.2
Bottom five (total viewers): 104. UPN’s “Cuts” 747,000; 105. UPN’s “Eve” 578,000, 106. UPN’s “Veronica Mars” 560,000, 107. UPN’s “Veronica Mars 8pm,” UPN’s “Love, Inc.” 548,000
Show on the rise: CBS, “Big Brother 7: All-Stars,” Tuesday 8 p.m. “Big Brother” delivered its best 18-49 numbers of the season, averaging a 3.6 opposite the season premiere of Fox’s “House.” It also drew the most total viewers, 8.83 million, for any “Brother” broadcast in two years.
Show on the decline: Fox’s “Celebrity Duets,” Friday 9 p.m. The first Friday results show averaged a 1.5 in 18-49s, down 42 percent from the previous night and tying for fourth in the timeslot.
|
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Sept. 10 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
NBC |
6.4 |
7160 |
11 |
3.4 |
9700 |
9 |
3.5 |
4550 |
10 |
|
FOX |
5.8 |
6450 |
10 |
3.3 |
9290 |
9 |
3.6 |
4640 |
10 |
|
ABC |
4.9 |
5480 |
8 |
2.6 |
7460 |
7 |
2.6 |
3430 |
8 |
|
CBS |
4.8 |
5310 |
8 |
2.5 |
7120 |
7 |
2.4 |
3130 |
7 |
|
UNI |
2.0 |
2200 |
3 |
1.3 |
3580 |
3 |
1.6 |
2120 |
5 |
|
WB |
1.2 |
1280 |
2 |
0.6 |
1650 |
2 |
0.6 |
830 |
2 |
|
UPN |
0.6 |
660 |
1 |
0.3 |
890 |
1 |
0.3 |
450 |
1 |
|
PAX |
0.5 |
540 |
1 |
0.2 |
680 |
1 |
0.1 |
160 |
0 |
|
TEL |
0.5 |
580 |
1 |
0.3 |
850 |
1 |
0.4 |
520 |
1 |
|
TF |
0.3 |
340 |
1 |
0.2 |
490 |
0 |
0.3 |
330 |
1 |
|
* Each rating point is equivalent to 1.114 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Sept. 10 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
7.2 |
7950 |
12 |
3.9 |
11050 |
10 |
3.3 |
4290 |
9 |
|
ABC |
5.9 |
6530 |
10 |
3.3 |
9230 |
9 |
3.3 |
4350 |
9 |
|
NBC |
5.7 |
6340 |
10 |
3.1 |
8760 |
8 |
3.0 |
3840 |
8 |
|
FOX |
5.5 |
6080 |
9 |
3.2 |
8920 |
8 |
3.6 |
4690 |
10 |
|
UNI |
1.9 |
2080 |
3 |
1.3 |
3550 |
3 |
1.5 |
2010 |
4 |
|
UPN |
1.8 |
2030 |
3 |
1.0 |
2760 |
3 |
1.1 |
1450 |
3 |
|
WB |
1.8 |
2020 |
3 |
1.0 |
2730 |
2 |
1.1 |
1460 |
3 |
|
TEL |
0.5 |
590 |
1 |
0.3 |
880 |
1 |
0.4 |
540 |
1 |
|
PAX |
0.4 |
410 |
1 |
0.2 |
530 |
0 |
0.1 |
130 |
0 |
|
TF |
0.3 |
360 |
1 |
0.2 |
540 |
1 |
0.3 |
330 |
1 |
|
* Each rating point is equivalent to 1. 114 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
NETWORK TV
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Sept. 10 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
14.3 |
23 |
15969 |
1 |
8.0 |
22567 |
|
2 |
NBC NFL THURSDAY SPECIAL(S) |
NBC |
12.6 |
21 |
14083 |
3 |
6.8 |
19196 |
|
3 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
11.6 |
19 |
12917 |
2 |
6.9 |
19653 |
|
4 |
NBC NFL THURSDAY PRE-KICK(S) |
NBC |
9.3 |
16 |
10322 |
5 |
4.9 |
14018 |
|
5 |
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK |
NBC |
9.2 |
15 |
10227 |
4 |
5.1 |
14496 |
|
6 |
STANDOFF |
FOX |
8.3 |
13 |
9245 |
6 |
4.8 |
13625 |
|
7 |
SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL |
ABC |
8.2 |
15 |
9113 |
7 |
4.7 |
13274 |
|
8 |
OT, THE |
FOX |
7.6 |
13 |
8423 |
8 |
4.3 |
12115 |
|
9 |
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 |
NBC |
7.5 |
13 |
8314 |
9 |
4.1 |
11630 |
|
10 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
7.4 |
12 |
8251 |
12 |
3.7 |
10564 |
|
11 |
CSI |
CBS |
7.3 |
11 |
8113 |
11 |
3.8 |
10671 |
|
12 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
6.9 |
11 |
7696 |
9 |
4.1 |
11626 |
|
13 |
CSI: MIAMI-SPC(S) |
CBS |
6.6 |
11 |
7325 |
15 |
3.4 |
9733 |
|
13 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN-SPC(S) |
CBS |
6.6 |
10 |
7357 |
13 |
3.6 |
10329 |
|
15 |
CSI: NY - 9PM SPECIAL(S) |
CBS |
6.5 |
10 |
7193 |
17 |
3.3 |
9433 |
|
15 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
6.5 |
11 |
7222 |
17 |
3.3 |
9232 |
|
17 |
60 MINUTES |
CBS |
6.4 |
11 |
7144 |
15 |
3.4 |
9554 |
|
18 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
6.1 |
10 |
6813 |
21 |
3.1 |
8764 |
|
19 |
BONES |
FOX |
5.9 |
10 |
6571 |
20 |
3.2 |
9127 |
|
19 |
FAMILY GUY |
FOX |
5.9 |
9 |
6539 |
14 |
3.5 |
9932 |
|
19 |
NFL OPENING KICK-OFF SHOW(S) |
NBC |
5.9 |
11 |
6583 |
21 |
3.1 |
8874 |
|
22 |
20/20-FRI |
ABC |
5.8 |
11 |
6498 |
30 |
2.9 |
8205 |
|
23 |
TIL DEATH |
FOX |
5.7 |
10 |
6318 |
21 |
3.1 |
8824 |
|
23 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN 8PM-SP(S) |
CBS |
5.7 |
9 |
6363 |
21 |
3.1 |
8710 |
|
25 |
BIG BROTHER 7-TUE |
CBS |
5.6 |
9 |
6280 |
21 |
3.1 |
8825 |
|
25 |
PRISON BREAK |
FOX |
5.6 |
9 |
6191 |
17 |
3.3 |
9291 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending Sept. 10 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
8.8 |
11488 |
|
2 |
NBC NFL THURSDAY SPECIAL(S) |
NBC |
7.8 |
10163 |
|
3 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
7.2 |
9462 |
|
4 |
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK |
NBC |
5.4 |
7051 |
|
5 |
NBC NFL THURSDAY PRE-KICK(S) |
NBC |
5.3 |
6938 |
|
5 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
5.3 |
6956 |
|
7 |
OT, THE |
FOX |
5.1 |
6699 |
|
8 |
FAMILY GUY |
FOX |
4.8 |
6301 |
|
8 |
SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL |
ABC |
4.8 |
6255 |
|
10 |
STANDOFF |
FOX |
4.7 |
6105 |
|
11 |
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 |
NBC |
4.2 |
5520 |
|
12 |
AMERICAN DAD |
FOX |
4.1 |
5384 |
|
13 |
PRISON BREAK |
FOX |
3.8 |
5022 |
|
14 |
ROCKSTAR: SUPERNOVA-TUE |
CBS |
3.7 |
4848 |
|
15 |
BIG BROTHER 7-TUE |
CBS |
3.6 |
4649 |
|
15 |
WAR AT HOME |
FOX |
3.6 |
4676 |
|
17 |
CSI |
CBS |
3.4 |
4483 |
|
17 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN-SPC(S) |
CBS |
3.4 |
4415 |
|
19 |
BIG BROTHER 7-THU |
CBS |
3.2 |
4205 |
|
19 |
NFL OPENING KICK-OFF SHOW(S) |
NBC |
3.2 |
4226 |
|
21 |
CSI: MIAMI-SPC(S) |
CBS |
3.1 |
4113 |
|
21 |
ROCK STAR: SUPERNOVA |
CBS |
3.1 |
4069 |
|
21 |
TIL DEATH |
FOX |
3.1 |
4009 |
|
21 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
3.1 |
4083 |
|
25 |
JUSTICE |
FOX |
2.9 |
3767 |
|
25 |
LAW AND ORDER |
NBC |
2.9 |
3805 |
|
25 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
2.9 |
3785 |
|
25 |
SAT NIGHT FTBL PRE-GAME |
ABC |
2.9 |
3784 |
|
25 |
WIFE SWAP-MON 9P SP-9/4(S) |
ABC |
2.9 |
3779 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SYNDICATION
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Aug. 27* |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Syndicator |
Households |
|
US Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE |
KIN |
6.7 |
7403 |
|
2 |
JEOPARDY |
KIN |
5.4 |
5983 |
|
3 |
OPRAH WINFREY SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
5.3 |
5848 |
|
4 |
EVRY LVS RAYMOND-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
5 |
5537 |
|
5 |
SEINFELD (AT) |
SPT |
4.7 |
5208 |
|
6 |
JUDGE JUDY (AT) |
PRM |
4.6 |
5058 |
|
6 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT(AT) |
PRM |
4.6 |
5046 |
|
8 |
CSI-SYN (AT) |
KIN |
4.5 |
5000 |
|
8 |
SEINFELD-WKND (AT) |
SPT |
4.5 |
4968 |
|
10 |
DR. PHIL SHOW (AT) |
KIN |
4.4 |
4834 |
|
11 |
FRIENDS (AT) |
WB |
4.1 |
4485 |
|
12 |
WHEEL OF FORTUNE WKND |
KIN |
3.5 |
3889 |
|
12 |
THAT 70S SHOW-MF-SYN (AT) |
2/T |
3.5 |
3826 |
|
14 |
EVBDY LVS RAYMOND-WKD-SYN |
KIN |
3.4 |
3749 |
|
15 |
INSIDE EDITION |
KIN |
3.3 |
3637 |
|
16 |
JUDGE JOE BROWN (AT) |
PRM |
3.1 |
3362 |
|
17 |
MILLIONAIRE (AT) |
BV |
2.9 |
3237 |
|
17 |
LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY |
BV |
2.9 |
3184 |
|
19 |
KING OF THE HILL-SYN(AT) |
2/T |
2.7 |
2973 |
|
19 |
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT WKD |
PRM |
2.7 |
2939 |
|
21 |
PEOPLE'S COURT (AT) |
WB |
2.6 |
2834 |
|
21 |
MAURY (AT) |
NBU |
2.6 |
2824 |
|
23 |
INSIDER (AT) |
PRM |
2.5 |
2719 |
|
24 |
DIVORCE COURT (AT) |
2/T |
2.4 |
2694 |
|
25 |
COPS-SYN (AT) |
2/T |
2.3 |
2554 |
|
* Note: The chart for the week ended Sept. 3 was delayed.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED)
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Sept. 10 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
P2+ (000) |
|
1 |
FEA MAS BELLA M-F |
UNI |
22.1 |
4723 |
|
2 |
CRISTINA-MON |
UNI |
21.2 |
4400 |
|
3 |
BARRERA DE AMOR M-F |
UNI |
20.4 |
4297 |
|
4 |
HERIDAS DE AMOR M-F |
UNI |
15.2 |
3084 |
|
5 |
AQUI Y AHORA-THU |
UNI |
15.1 |
2790 |
|
6 |
CASOS VIDA R: ED. ESP FRI |
UNI |
14.9 |
3091 |
|
7 |
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA-WE |
UNI |
14.4 |
2544 |
|
8 |
VER PARA CREER-TUE |
UNI |
13.8 |
2493 |
|
9 |
CANTANDO POR SUENOIII SUN |
UNI |
13.4 |
2693 |
|
10 |
SABADO GIGANTE-SAT |
UNI |
12.6 |
2522 |
|
11 |
VUELO 93 9/10(S)-09/10/2006 |
UNI |
10.9 |
2075 |
|
12 |
CASOS FAMILIA ED ESP SAT |
UNI |
9.6 |
1725 |
|
13 |
TIERRA DE PASIONES M-F |
TEL |
7.8 |
1371 |
|
14 |
VIUDA DE BLANCO M-F |
TEL |
6.7 |
1164 |
|
15 |
AMORES M-F |
TEL |
5.9 |
1081 |
|
16 |
DECISIONES M-F |
TEL |
5.8 |
1053 |
|
17 |
AMORES DE MERCADO M-F |
TEL |
5.6 |
977 |
|
18 |
CINE LAS ESTREL2 SAT |
TF |
3.9 |
734 |
|
19 |
CINE LAS ESTREL2 SUN |
TF |
3.5 |
769 |
|
19 |
FUTBOL LIGA MEX SAT |
TF |
3.5 |
606 |
|
21 |
ASI ES LA VIDA M-F |
TF |
3.4 |
690 |
|
22 |
CINEMUNDO PREMIER |
TEL |
3.3 |
686 |
|
22 |
QUINCEANERA |
TEL |
3.3 |
638 |
|
24 |
CINEMUNDO PREMIER II |
TEL |
2.8 |
535 |
|
25 |
CINE LAS ESTREL1 SUN |
TF |
2.7 |
598 |
|
* Nielsen Hispanic Television Index; ratings based on 11.63 million Hispanic TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Sept. 10 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
6.3 |
1200 |
|
2 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
5.8 |
920 |
|
3 |
FAMILY GUY |
FOX |
5.7 |
1081 |
|
4 |
AMERICAN DAD |
FOX |
5.4 |
1050 |
|
5 |
NBC NFL THURSDAY SPECIAL(S)-09/07/2006 |
NBC |
5.0 |
826 |
|
6 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
4.7 |
854 |
|
6 |
GEORGE LOPEZ SP 4-9/6(S)-09/06/2006 |
ABC |
4.7 |
774 |
|
8 |
AMW: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK |
FOX |
4.5 |
778 |
|
8 |
OT, THE |
FOX |
4.5 |
786 |
|
10 |
STANDOFF |
FOX |
4.4 |
721 |
|
* Nielsen Hispanic Television Index; ratings based on 11.63 million Hispanic TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Sept. 10 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL |
NBC |
17.1 |
3136 |
|
2 |
NBC NFL THURSDAY SPECIAL |
NBC |
16.7 |
2990 |
|
3 |
OT, THE |
FOX |
11.8 |
2459 |
|
4 |
HOUSE |
FOX |
11.7 |
2196 |
|
5 |
NBC NFL THURSDAY PRE-KICK |
NBC |
10.9 |
1744 |
|
6 |
STANDOFF |
FOX |
10.8 |
1946 |
|
7 |
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK |
NBC |
9.9 |
1744 |
|
8 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
9.6 |
1802 |
|
9 |
SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL |
ABC |
9.0 |
1609 |
|
10 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
8.9 |
1404 |
|
* Ratings based on 13.45 million African American TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
NETWORK SPORTS PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Aug. 27* |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Episode |
Households |
Persons 2+ |
|
US Rtg% |
