Despite the 34-17 blowout that saw the Baltimore Ravens defeat the New York Jets, Sunday Night Football was the most-watched program on Sunday night for the fourth straight week and the No. 1 show of the week in the key advertising demographic of Adults 18-49, according to official national data released today by The Nielsen Company.
The game drew 18.9 million viewers, 10 percent lower than last year’s Week 4 game (Bears-Giants, 20.9 million), but up three percent from the 2009 Week 4 game (Chargers-Steelers, 18.4 million). Jets-Ravens marked the second most-watched Week 4 game in the six-year history of SNF.
The household rating for Jets-Ravens of 11.5/18 is down eight percent from last year’s Week 4 game (12.5/20) but up five percent from the 2009 Week 4 game (11.0/18).
The Adult 18-49 rating of 7.7 ranked Sunday Night Football as the No. 1 primetime program of the week in the key advertiser demographic.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL VIEWERSHIP FOR WEEK 4 GAMES:
2011 Jets-Ravens 18.9 million
2010 Bears-Giants 20.9 million
2009 Chargers-Steelers 18.4 million
2008 Eagles-Bears 17.3 million
2007 Eagles-Giants 15.0 million
2006 Seahawks-Bears 16.9 million
SNF STARTS STRONG: Through the first four weeks of the NFL season (four Sunday’s and one Thursday), Sunday Night Football is averaging 23.2 million viewers, the most through this point in the season in the six-year history of SNF.
The four-week average household rating of 13.9/22 is one percent higher than last year’s 13.7/23 and 10 percent ahead of 2009 (12.6/21) through the same point in the season.
· The critically acclaimed Football Night in America is averaging 9.5 million viewers and a household rating of 5.8/10 (7:30-8:15 p.m. ET) through the first four weeks, up 10 percent and nine percent, respectively, from last year’s first four weeks.
SNF IS NO. 1 SHOW OF SUNDAY NIGHT AGAIN: The Jets-Ravens broadcast was the No. 1 show of Sunday night in households, total viewers and all key adult and male demographics (excluding NFL overruns).
· Sunday Night Football powered NBC to a Sunday night primetime win, averaging 16.6 million viewers from 7:30-11 p.m., 19 percent ahead of second-place CBS (13.9 million), which benefited from an NFL overrun.
SNF 5-FOR-5: With 18.9 million viewers for Jets-Ravens, Sunday Night Football starts the season five-for-five versus its competition. This continues a trend for SNF dominating Sunday nights. Last season, “Sunday Night Football” was the No. 1 show all 18 nights (100 percent) vs. its competition (16 Sundays, one Tuesday and one Thursday).
2011 – 5 of 5 (Four Sundays, one Thursday – 100 percent)
2010 – 18 of 18 (16 Sundays, one Tuesday and one Thursday – 100 percent)
2009 – 15 of 16 Sundays (94 percent)
2008 – 13 of 16 Sundays (81 percent)
2007 – 11 of 16 Sundays (69 percent)
2006 – nine of 16 Sundays (56 percent)
TOP 10 METERED MARKETS FOR RAVENS-JETS:
1. Baltimore, 38.8/56
2. New Orleans, 18.8/26
3. Las Vegas, 18.3/29
4. Richmond, 18.2/28
5. San Diego, 16.9/29
T6. Washington D.C., 15.9/26
T6. Indianapolis, 15.9/25
T6. Albuquerque, 15.9/23
9. Dayton, 15.8/23
10. Nashville, 15.7/23
*New York placed 11th among metered markets with a 15.4/24
(source: NBC)
