In a year when ratings for many other sports, including NASCAR and baseball, saw declines, it’s been an outstanding season for pro football.
The NFL posted ratings improvements on all four of its carriers. It accounted for all 10 of the year’s most-watched shows on basic cable and produced its highest-rated regular-season game in nearly a decade.
Over the weekend those ratings improvements continued as ratings for the four wild card games were very strong, including one record.
NBC’s Dallas Cowboys-Seattle Seahawks game was the most-watched primetime NFL wild card game ever and the No. 1 show in primetime last week, the week ended Jan. 7. It averaged a 16.4 rating in households, up 18 percent over ABC’s 13.9 for the equivalent Jacksonville Jaguars-New England Patriots game in 2006. Nearly 27 million total viewers tuned in.
Fox’s Sunday New York Giants-Philadelphia Eagles game was up over last year's Fox wild card game, and CBS’s Sunday New York Jets-Patriots game improved over the comparable game last year.
At this rate, the Super Bowl on Feb. 4 could do even better than last year’s highly rated contest on ABC, if the compelling storylines continue.
That’s likely what boosted NFL ratings for the regular season and will continue to do so in the playoffs. Part of that has been the surprising performances of teams like the Jets and the New Orleans Saints, neither of which was expected to compete for the playoffs this year much less, in the case of the Saints, grab the NFC’s second seed.
The Jets seemed likely to struggle after losing their highly regarded coach, Herm Edwards, to Kansas City. Yet they went from 4-12 last year to 10-6 and a first-round playoff appearance this year as quarterback Chad Pennington returned from shoulder surgery.
Meanwhile, the Saints became the symbolic embodiment of the Gulf Coast’s recovery from the Hurricane Katrina disaster. One year removed from a 3-13 record, New Orleans rode a host of new players to an 11-5 record as the Superdome reopened for the first time since being used as a shelter during Katrina.
There were other good stories too, including the resurgence of the Dallas Cowboys with attention-drawing new receiver Terrell Owens, the Eagles’ steadiness under backup QB Jeff Garcia after start Donovan McNabb was injured, and the shocking late-season meltdown of perennial Super Bowl contender Indianapolis.
Meanwhile, in broadcast ratings for the week ended Jan. 7:
Among adults 18-49, NBC won the week with a 4.2 rating and 11 share, squeaking ahead of Fox at 4.1/11. CBS had a 3.1/8, followed by ABC at 2.9/7, Univision at 1.5/4, CW at 1.2/4, Telemundo at 0.4/1, Telefutura at 0.3/1 and Azteca at 0.0/0.
Among adults 18-34, Fox led with 3.8/11, followed by NBC at 3.3/10, ABC at 2.2/7, CBS at 2.0/6, Univision at 1.7/5, CW at 1.3/4, Telemundo at 0.5/1, Telefutura at 0.3/1, and Azteca at 0.0/9.
Among adults 25-54, NBC led with a 4.8 rating, followed by Fox at 4.3, CBS at 4.1, ABC at 3.4, Univision at 1.5, CW at 1.2, Telemundo at 0.4, Telefutura at 0.3 and Azteca at 0.0.
Top five (18-49s): 1. NBC’s “NFL Playoff Game 2” 10.0; 2. CBS’s “CSI” 8.4; 3. ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” 7.3; 4. Fox’s “Simpsons” 5.4; Tie-5 NBC’s “Law and Order: SVU” and Fox’s “Allstate Sugar Bowl” 5.2
Top five (total viewers): 1. NBC’s “NFL Playoff Game 2” 26.77 million; 2. CBS’s “CSI” 26.12 million; 3. ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” 18.71 million; 4. NBC’s “Law and Order:SVU” 15.17 million; 5. Fox’s “Allstate Sugar Bowl” 14.42 million
Bottom five (18-49s): Tie-95. ABC’s “Desperate Housewives,” CW’s “Girlfriends,” “Beauty and the Geek Encore,” and “Gilmore Girls” 0.9; 99. CW’s “Reba” 0.8; 100. CW’s “The Game” 0.7; 101. CW’s “Veronica Mars” 0.6
Bottom five (total viewers): 97. CW’s “Girlfriends New Year” 2.08 million; 98. CW’s “Beauty and the Geek Encore” 2.08 million; 99. CW’s “Gilmore Girls” 2.05 million; 100. CW’s “The Game New Year” 1.75 million”; 101. CW’s “Veronica Mars” 1.41 million
Show on the rise: “La Fea Mas Bella” Univision, Monday – Friday 8 p.m. Univision was the top-rated network among adults 18-34 in the 8 p.m. timeslot for the third week in a row.
Show on the decline: “According to Jim,” ABC, Wednesday 8 p.m. The former stalwart among adults 18-49 was down 0.1 from last year's series-low premiere, to a 2.5.
|
PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Jan. 7 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
7.4 |
8230 |
12 |
4.0 |
11460 |
10 |
3.1 |
4080 |
8 |
|
NBC |
7.3 |
8160 |
12 |
4.1 |
11530 |
10 |
4.2 |
5460 |
11 |
|
FOX |
6.7 |
7500 |
11 |
3.8 |
10700 |
9 |
4.0 |
5290 |
10 |
|
ABC |
5.2 |
5760 |
8 |
2.8 |
8000 |
7 |
2.9 |
3770 |
7 |
|
CW |
2.0 |
2190 |
3 |
1.1 |
3010 |
2 |
1.2 |
1560 |
3 |
|
UNI |
1.9 |
2140 |
3 |
1.3 |
3670 |
3 |
1.5 |
2020 |
4 |
|
TEL |
0.5 |
590 |
1 |
0.3 |
920 |
1 |
0.4 |
580 |
1 |
|
PAX |
0.5 |
530 |
1 |
0.3 |
710 |
1 |
0.1 |
190 |
0 |
|
TF |
0.4 |
420 |
1 |
0.2 |
640 |
1 |
0.3 |
410 |
1 |
|
AZA |
0.1 |
70 |
0 |
0.0 |
90 |
0 |
0.0 |
50 |
0 |
|
* 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 Jan. 7 |
|
Network |
Households |
People 2+ |
Adults 18-49 |
|
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
Rtg% |
(000) |
Shr |
|
CBS |
7.7 |
8580 |
13 |
4.2 |
12030 |
11 |
3.5 |
4590 |
10 |
|
ABC |
6.6 |
7310 |
11 |
3.6 |
10190 |
9 |
3.5 |
4620 |
10 |
|
NBC |
6.3 |
7060 |
10 |
3.5 |
9850 |
9 |
3.5 |
4600 |
10 |
|
FOX |
5.1 |
5670 |
8 |
2.8 |
7950 |
7 |
2.9 |
3830 |
8 |
|
CW |
2.1 |
2320 |
3 |
1.1 |
3220 |
3 |
1.3 |
1720 |
4 |
|
UNI |
1.9 |
2110 |
3 |
1.2 |
3410 |
3 |
1.5 |
1930 |
4 |
|
TEL |
0.5 |
570 |
1 |
0.3 |
830 |
1 |
0.4 |
500 |
1 |
|
PAX |
0.4 |
470 |
1 |
0.2 |
620 |
1 |
0.1 |
170 |
0 |
|
TF |
0.4 |
410 |
1 |
0.2 |
620 |
1 |
0.3 |
400 |
1 |
|
AZA |
0.1 |
90 |
0 |
0.0 |
140 |
0 |
0.1 |
90 |
0 |
|
* Each rating point is equivalent to 1. 114 million homes
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Jan. 7 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
NBC NFL PLAYOFF GAME 2(S) |
NBC |
16.4 |
27 |
18224 |
1 |
9.4 |
26767 |
|
2 |
CSI |
CBS |
15.8 |
24 |
17645 |
2 |
9.2 |
26116 |
|
3 |
NBC NFL PLAYOFF PRE-KICK2(S) |
NBC |
12.6 |
23 |
14062 |
3 |
7.2 |
20287 |
|
4 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
11.7 |
17 |
13028 |
4 |
6.6 |
18707 |
|
5 |
FOX NFC WILDCARD POST GME(S) |
FOX |
10.6 |
16 |
11775 |
5 |
5.9 |
16804 |
|
6 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
10.0 |
16 |
11170 |
6 |
5.3 |
15166 |
|
7 |
ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL(S) |
FOX |
9.3 |
16 |
10348 |
7 |
5.1 |
14417 |
|
8 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
9.2 |
15 |
10246 |
9 |
5.0 |
14186 |
|
9 |
SHARK |
CBS |
9.1 |
15 |
10183 |
7 |
5.1 |
14416 |
|
10 |
COLD CASE |
CBS |
9.0 |
13 |
9981 |
9 |
5.0 |
14116 |
|
10 |
LAW AND ORDER:CRIM INTENT |
NBC |
9.0 |
14 |
10038 |
12 |
4.7 |
13375 |
|
12 |
CSI - THU 8P SPECIAL(S) |
CBS |
8.4 |
13 |
9381 |
14 |
4.6 |
13015 |
|
12 |
TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL(S) |
FOX |
8.4 |
15 |
9353 |
11 |
4.9 |
13778 |
|
14 |
NCIS |
CBS |
8.3 |
13 |
9265 |
14 |
4.6 |
13054 |
|
15 |
BROTHERS & SISTERS |
ABC |
7.9 |
13 |
8772 |
19 |
4.2 |
11867 |
|
15 |
CRIMINAL MINDS |
CBS |
7.9 |
12 |
8835 |
19 |
4.2 |
11960 |
|
15 |
NUMB3RS |
CBS |
7.9 |
13 |
8755 |
16 |
4.4 |
12347 |
|
18 |
CSI: MIAMI 1/1(S) |
CBS |
7.8 |
13 |
8738 |
17 |
4.3 |
12149 |
|
18 |
UGLY BETTY |
ABC |
7.8 |
12 |
8727 |
21 |
4.1 |
11647 |
|
20 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. |
ABC |
7.7 |
11 |
8536 |
12 |
4.7 |
13418 |
|
21 |
CLOSE TO HOME |
CBS |
7.6 |
12 |
8457 |
21 |
4.1 |
11562 |
|
21 |
COLD CASE 8PM SPECIAL(S) |
CBS |
7.6 |
11 |
8501 |
21 |
4.1 |
11751 |
|
21 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN 1/1(S) |
CBS |
7.6 |
11 |
8468 |
17 |
4.3 |
12098 |
|
24 |
E.R. |
NBC |
7.4 |
12 |
8267 |
28 |
3.9 |
10929 |
|
25 |
ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL-KICK(S) |
FOX |
7.3 |
12 |
8180 |
26 |
4.0 |
11261 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
TOP 25 PROGRAMS – BROADCAST
Adults 18-49
Week Ending Jan. 7 |
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1 |
NBC NFL PLAYOFF GAME 2(S) |
NBC |
10.0 |
13123 |
|
2 |
CSI |
CBS |
8.4 |
10973 |
|
3 |
NBC NFL PLAYOFF PRE-KICK2(S) |
NBC |
7.4 |
9600 |
|
4 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
7.3 |
9540 |
|
5 |
FOX NFC WILDCARD POST GME(S) |
FOX |
7.0 |
9192 |
|
6 |
SIMPSONS |
FOX |
5.4 |
7053 |
|
7 |
ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL(S) |
FOX |
5.2 |
6735 |
|
7 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
5.2 |
6795 |
|
9 |
EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. |
ABC |
5.1 |
6609 |
|
10 |
TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL(S) |
FOX |
4.9 |
6404 |
|
11 |
E.R. |
NBC |
4.6 |
6062 |
|
11 |
FAMILY GUY |
FOX |
4.6 |
5956 |
|
13 |
AMERICAN DAD |
FOX |
4.5 |
5818 |
|
13 |
BROTHERS & SISTERS |
ABC |
4.5 |
5873 |
|
13 |
FAMILY GUY-SUN 9:30P |
FOX |
4.5 |
5857 |
|
16 |
GREASE:ONE THAT I WANT |
NBC |
4.3 |
5637 |
|
16 |
MY NAME IS EARL |
NBC |
4.3 |
5579 |
|
16 |
OFFICE |
NBC |
4.3 |
5583 |
|
19 |
APPRENTICE 6 |
NBC |
4.1 |
5326 |
|
19 |
LAW AND ORDER:CRIM INTENT |
NBC |
4.1 |
5360 |
|
21 |
GREY'S ANATOMY-SP(S) |
ABC |
4.0 |
5265 |
|
22 |
CSI: MIAMI 1/1(S) |
CBS |
3.8 |
5021 |
|
22 |
FEDEX ORANGE BOWL(S) |
FOX |
3.8 |
5026 |
|
22 |
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM |
ABC |
3.8 |
4915 |
|
25 |
SHARK |
CBS |
3.7 |
4847 |
|
25 |
TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL-KICK(S) |
FOX |
3.7 |
4811 |
|
25 |
TWO AND A HALF MEN 1/1(S) |
CBS |
3.7 |
4882 |
|
25 |
UGLY BETTY |
ABC |
3.7 |
4818 |
|
25 |
WITHOUT A TRACE |
CBS |
3.7 |
4843 |
|
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
|
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION (WEEKLY COLLAPSED)
Ranked on Households
Week Ending Jan. 7 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
P2+ (000) |
|
1 |
FEA MAS BELLA M-F |
UNI |
22.8 |
5291 |
|
2 |
MUNDO DE FIERAS M-F |
UNI |
16.4 |
3538 |
|
3 |
HERIDAS DE AMOR M-F |
UNI |
16.0 |
3393 |
|
4 |
PREMIOS F. MUSICAL 07 1/7(S)-01/07/2007 |
UNI |
14.0 |
2867 |
|
5 |
VER PARA CREER-TUE |
UNI |
12.8 |
2475 |
|
6 |
AQUI Y AHORA-THU |
UNI |
12.6 |
2478 |
|
6 |
DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA-WE |
UNI |
12.6 |
2554 |
|
6 |
CASOS VIDA R: ED. ESP FRI |
UNI |
12.6 |
2478 |
|
9 |
CRISTINA-MON |
UNI |
11.6 |
1968 |
|
10 |
NOCHE DE ESTRELLAS 1/7(S)-01/07/2007 |
UNI |
11.5 |
2424 |
|
11 |
SABADO GIGANTE-SAT |
UNI |
10.8 |
2399 |
|
12 |
CASOS FAMILIA ED ESP SAT |
UNI |
9.1 |
1728 |
|
13 |
VIUDA DE BLANCO M-F |
TEL |
7.3 |
1222 |
|
14 |
MARINA M-F |
TEL |
6.7 |
1089 |
|
15 |
NEW YEAR DAY FILM IV 1/1(S)-01/01/2007 |
TEL |
5.8 |
1226 |
|
16 |
NEW YEAR DAY FILM V 1/1(S)-01/01/2007 |
TEL |
5.6 |
1103 |
|
17 |
CINE LAS ESTREL2 SUN |
TF |
5.5 |
1254 |
|
18 |
CINE LAS ESTREL1 SUN |
TF |
5.3 |
1184 |
|
19 |
DECISIONES M-F |
TEL |
5.2 |
888 |
|
20 |
CINEMUNDO DEL SABADO |
TEL |
4.9 |
1002 |
|
21 |
AMOR MIO M-F |
TEL |
4.7 |
898 |
|
22 |
MARAV MUNDO DISNEY 1/7(S)-01/07/2007 |
TEL |
4.2 |
925 |
|
23 |
CINE LAS ESTREL1 M-THU |
TF |
4.0 |
747 |
|
23 |
CINEMUNDO PREMIER |
TEL |
4.0 |
742 |
|
25 |
ASI ES LA VIDA M-F |
TF |
3.6 |
737 |
|
* 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 Jan. 7 |
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
NHTI |
P2+(000) |
|
1 |
NBC NFL PLAYOFF GAME 2(S)-01/06/2007 |
NBC |
8.0 |
1270 |
|
2 |
UGLY BETTY |
ABC |
5.3 |
961 |
|
3 |
NBC NFL PLAYOFF PRE-KICK2(S)-01/06/2007 |
NBC |
5.2 |
658 |
|
3 |
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES |
ABC |
5.2 |
811 |
|
5 |
FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN |
CW |
5.1 |
985 |
|
6 |
CSI |
CBS |
4.2 |
817 |
|
6 |
GREY'S ANATOMY-THU 9PM |
ABC |
4.2 |
742 |
|
6 |
AMERICAN DAD |
FOX |
4.2 |
963 |
|
9 |
FOX NFC WILDCARD POST GME(S)-01/07/2007 |
FOX |
3.9 |
609 |
|
9 |
LAW AND ORDER:SVU |
NBC |
3.9 |
636 |
|
9 |
NBC NFL PLAYOFF BRIDGE(S)-01/06/2007 |
NBC |
3.9 |
474 |
|
* Nielsen Hispanic Television Index; ratings based on 11.63 million Hispanic TV homes.
Source: Nielsen Media Research |
