NFL Week 1 Ratings See Uptick In Most Windows
Ryan Mayer
After the first Sunday of NFL action, the league's various broadcast partners are likely happy this morning. Overnight ratings reporting shows increases in viewership in three of the four windows.
In their set of regional, single-header games, CBS Sports is reporting that ratings are up 23% over last season's with an average overnight household rating share of 10.6/22. The network's pregame show, The NFL Today, also saw a ratings increase, with a 2.8/7 overnight rating, which was up 12% from last season. The average 10.6 rating is the highest opening singleheader rating in three years.
CBS Sports' NFL ratings up from 2017 https://t.co/2o9G1HWFdt pic.twitter.com/429OmpdTi2
— CBS Sports PR (@CBSSportsGang) September 10, 2018
As for FOX, they scored an 8.8 average rating across their regional broadcasts which was up 5% from last season. Their national coverage, which included the Panthers-Cowboys game in most markets, is up 1% year over year (15.7 vs. 15.6)
From start to finish, FOX NFL Week 1 metered market ratings are up vs. 2017.
— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) September 10, 2018
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NBC wasn't as lucky, with the Packers and Bears Sunday Night Football game garnering a 14.4 rating, which is down 9% from last year's Giants-Cowboys Week 1 match-up. However, that rating is up from Thursday's opening game between the Falcons and Eagles.
The 14.4/25 overnight for NBC's Bears-Packers easily wins Sunday night in primetime & is up 7% from last Thursday's NFL Kickoff Game
— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) September 10, 2018
One other thing to note, courtesy of Sports Media Watch, last year's Week 1 ratings were lower due to the effects of Hurricane Irma coverage.