FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012

“SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” ON NBC OFF TO BEST START IN ITS 7-YEAR HISTORY

23.3 Million Viewers Through 4 Weeks is Best in SNF History and Most-Watched Start to a Primetime Package in 16 Years Sunday Night Football is No. 1 Primetime Program of Premiere Week Giants-Eagles Draws 22.8 Million Viewers, Best for an NFL Week 4 Primetime Game Since 1996 For the first time in NBC's 7-year SNF history, each of its First 5 Games Have Drawn More Than 21 million viewers Viewership and National Rating Both Up From Last Year’s Week 4 SNF Game

NEW YORK – October 2, 2012 – NBC’s five-game average viewership of 23.3 million is best start in the seven-year history of Sunday Night Football, and the most-watched start to a season for a primetime package in 16 years (24.0 million for ABC in 1996).

· The four-week average household rating of 14.2/23 for five games is also the best start in the seven-year history of Sunday Night Football, and the best start to a season for a primetime package in 13 years (14.6/25 in 1999 on ABC).

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL THROUGH 4 WEEKS:

YEAR Viewers 2+ HH Rating
2012 23.3 million, 14.2/23
2011 23.2 million, 13.9/22
2010 22.9 million, 13.7/23
2009 20.8 million, 12.6/21
2008 17.8 million, 10.9/18
2007 17.1 million, 10.9/18
2006 18.6 million, 12.0/19

GIANTS-EAGLES:

Sunday’s game on NBC, in which the Eagles defeated the Giants, 19-17, drew 22.8 million viewers – the first time in NBC’s seven-year Sunday Night Football history that each of the first five games has topped 21 million viewers.

  • The 22.8 million for Sunday’s game is up 21% from last year’s Week 4 SNF game (18.9 million for Jets-Ravens), is the most-watched Week 4 game in SNF history, and the most-watched Week 4 primetime game in 16 years (25.1 million for Dolphins-Colts, 9/23/96 on ABC).
  • The household rating of 14.1/22 for Sunday’s game is up 23% from last year’s Week 4 SNF game (11.5/18 for Jets-Ravens) and is the highest-rated Week 4 primetime game in 15 years (15.0/26 for Steelers-Jaguars, 9/22/97 on ABC).

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL WEEK 4 GAMES:

In the first week of the official primetime television season, Sunday Night Football was the No. 1 show among viewers, households and all key adult and male demographics. Additionally, it was the No. 4 show among women 18-34 and No. 5 among women 18-49. This marks the fourth straight weekly win for among viewers, households and all the key adult and male demos.

Year Visitor Home Viewers 2+, HH Rating
2012 Giants Eagles 22.8 million, 14.1/22
2011 Jets Ravens 18.5 million, 11.8/18
2010 Bears Giants 20.9 million, 12.5/20
2009 Chargers Steelers 18.4 million, 11.0/18
2008 Eagles Bears 17.3 million, 10.8/17
2007 Eagles Giants 15.0 million, 9.4/15
2006 Seahawks Bears 16.9 million, 10.8/17

SNF NO. 1 SHOW FOR FIRST WEEK OF PRIMETIME SEASON: In the first week of the official primetime television season, Sunday Night Football was the No. 1 show among viewers, households and all key adult and male demographics. Additionally, it was the No. 4 show among women 18-34 and No. 5 among women 18-49. This marks the fourth straight weekly win for Sunday Night Football among viewers, households and all the key adult and male demos.

SNF DOMINATES SUNDAY NIGHT: The Giants-Eagles Sunday Night Football broadcast easily won the night facing original network programs. NBC led the night among viewers 2+ in primetime with 18.8 million viewers (7:30-11 p.m. ET) topping the 12.3 million for second-place Fox (which was boosted by an NFL overrun) by 54%. NBC also beat CBS (10.5 million) by 80% and ABC (8.5 million) by 121%.

Sunday Night Football has won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Sports Series each of the last four years.

TOP 10 METERED MARKETS FOR GIANTS-EAGLES:

1. Philadelphia 31.8/46
2. Richmond 22.1/33
3. Norfolk 22.0/33
4. Las Vegas 21.2/33
5. New York 20.7/31
T6. Washington, D.C. 18.0/30
T6. Baltimore 18.0/27
T6. Memphis 18.0/25
9. Albuquerque 17.7/28
10. New Orleans 17.2/23

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