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While some teams are struggling to sell out games, and many games have been blacked out in the local markets this NFL season, the TV ratings are through the roof and since the NFL shares its TV revenue with all 32 team equally that is good news for all.
To put it simply NFL games right now are the most watched TV show, no matter how we break that down. They are tops on networks TV, Cable TV, and the viewership is at its highest point in the last 20 years.
Regardless of network, or starting time each NFL game broadcast is averaging 17 million viewers. NFL games are averaging more than double the audience for non NFL programming on the big four networks.
The 4:15 games on CBS and FOX are combining to bring in 23.5 million, making those broadcasted the most watched TV programs this season on each network.
Sure league wide attendance is down, especially in places like Jacksonville, Detroit, and Oakland, but the NFL is not losing these fans. While poor attendance is an issue, great TV ratings will drive up the bidding for the next round of TV contracts. That is good for the NFL, and its teams. However that is hardly the end of the good news.
Sunday Night Football on NBC has an average of 19.5 million viewers, and that makes that they most watched Primetime TV program of the TV season. It is also an increase of 22% over 2008.
Monday night football on ESPN is averaging 14.6 million viewers, and that makes it the most watched show on cable TV. It is also up 18% over 2008, but that stinker of a game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns this week may hurt that number a little.
Now the bad news for all the other sports leagues, NFL games account for the top six most watched sporting events since Super Bowl 43. Think about that, that time period is the entire 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season, NHL Stanley Cup Finals, and the NBA finals.
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