NFL says this is its most watched season in history
The one person in America who is not watching the NFL must leave now. Thank you.
A little over halfway through the season, the NFL says this season is its most-watched ever, as more than 175 million viewers have tuned in at least one game. In addition, NFL games represent the 14 most-watched shows on television, with No. 15 a "Dancing With the Stars" episode.
An NFL game has ranked as the most-watched show every week and games have led local ratings 86 percent of the time. The NFL says that's the highest rate it has had through nine weeks.
The growth has been staggering. Only five years ago, no NFL game was in the top 15. NFL games are averaging 18.3 million viewers - up seven percent from last year at this point (17.2 million).
The top-rated game so far? It wasn't the Sept 9 kickoff between the Saints and Vikings (that was third with 27.5 million viewers).
It was the Fox Sept. 12 Packers-Eagles game (28 million viewers); that was the first Sunday of the season. NBC's Sunday night game that night, featuring the Redskins and Cowboys, was seventh with 25.3 million viewers. (While we're on the topic of the Redskins, their Oct. 3 game against the Eagles -- Donovan McNabb's first against his former team, was tied for ninth with 23.1 million viewers.)
By
Cindy Boren
| November 11, 2010; 12:56 PM ET
Categories:
NFL
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for me, i watch the redskins just to see how they are going to lose. it's always something different every week.
Posted by: astroman215aolcom | November 11, 2010 3:10 PM | Report abuse
Get your eyeballs ready.
There'll be no more NFL after February's lockout. There'll be no NBA after July's lockout.
There'll be no NCAA if there is no NBA or NFL for slaves (er, "student"-athletes) to strive for.
Well, there's always soccer.
Posted by: bs2004 | November 11, 2010 3:36 PM | Report abuse
The NFL, however, does not like to admit that the ratings are DRIVEN BY GAMBLING INTEREST in the sport and monopoly.
Posted by: Wooden_U_Lykteneau | November 11, 2010 3:37 PM | Report abuse
People can't afford to hang out anymore or order cable. What's left? Football.
Posted by: forgetthis | November 11, 2010 4:19 PM | Report abuse
Dear Washington Post,
Please stop covering news on the war in Afghanistan. Such covering is spoiling my ability to enjoy professional sports, which is all that really matters.
Posted by: jjedif | November 11, 2010 5:46 PM | Report abuse
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