FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 30th, 2019
NBC’S “SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL” CONCLUDES SEASON ON PACE TO BE TV’S #1 PRIMETIME SHOW FOR UNPRECEDENTED 9TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR; 2019 SEASON AVERAGES 20.5 MILLION VIEWERS, BEST IN FOUR YEARS
Last Night’s 49ers-Seahawks Thriller is Most-Watched NBC SNF Game Ever Between West Coast Teams, Averaging 23.3 Million Viewers
NBC SNF Dominates Primetime Competition in Average Viewership and HH Rating & Delivers 8 of 10 Most-Watched Primetime Telecasts on Any Network Since September
SNF Wins among Adults 18-49 for 12th Consecutive Fall Season
Decade Dominance: NBC’s Sunday Night Football Delivered 104 Regular-Season Broadcasts With at Least 20 Million TV Viewers – Tops in Primetime
NBC’s Football Night in America is Sports’ #1 Weekly Studio Show for 14th Consecutive Year
NBC Sports Digital Sets SNF Streaming Record For Average Minute Audience, Up 44% from 2018
STAMFORD, Conn. – Dec. 30, 2019 – With last night’s thrilling 49ers-Seahawks matchup, NBC concluded its 14th season of Sunday Night Football, posting its highest average viewership since the series’ record 2015 season, and once again pacing to finish as primetime’s #1 TV show in all key metrics for an unprecedented ninth consecutive year – adding to its record for the most consecutive years atop the charts (since 1950), based on official live plus same day data provided by Nielsen.
Most Consecutive Years, #1 Ranked Show in Primetime, Since 1950
9 years in a row – Sunday Night Football (2011-12 through 2019-20; on pace)
6 years in a row – American Idol (2005-06 through 2010-11)
5 years in a row – The Cosby Show (1985-86 through 1989-90)…tied Cheers in ‘89-90
5 years in a row – All in the Family (1971-72 through 1975-76)
4 years in a row – Gunsmoke (1957-58 through 1960-61)
NBC Sunday Night Football posted a Total Audience Delivery average of 20.5 million viewers in 2019 – up 5% from last year (19.6 million) and a 12% increase over 2017 (18.4 million), according to fast national live plus same day data released by Nielsen, and digital data from Adobe Analytics.
The exciting San Francisco 49ers-Seattle Seahawks ‘NFC West Championship’ game last night, which concluded with a defensive stop inches short of the goal line, averaged 23.3 million viewers across all platforms, ranking as NBC SNF’s most-watched game ever among West Coast teams. In addition, TV-only viewership on NBC for night’s game peaked at 25.7 million viewers for the thrilling conclusion from 11:15-11:28 p.m. ET.
“Last night’s season finale featured the down-to-the wire drama that we love about the NFL. With exciting games featuring compelling new stars emerging at quarterback, coupled with veterans at the position who rank among the best in history, we’ve had a terrific season with viewership increases across the board,” said Pete Bevacqua, President, NBC Sports Group. “We’re looking forward to the playoffs, with the Wilson-Wentz matchup in the wild card, and a divisional game featuring the NFC #1 seed San Francisco 49ers and Jimmy Garoppolo.”
- FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA IS MOST-WATCHED STUDIO SHOW FOR 14TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
NBC’s Football Night in America studio show averaged 7.3 million viewers from 7:30-8:15 p.m. ET this season – up 2% from last year (7.1 million). FNIA continues its reign as sports’ most-watched weekly studio show for the 14th consecutive year (since the show’s 2006 debut season). In addition, the 8-8:23 p.m. ET portion of Football Night in America (including pre-kick coverage), averaged 12.2 million viewers (through Week 16), and a 3.5 rating among Adults 18-49, which would respectively rank No. 3 and No. 4 among regularly-scheduled primetime shows in the demographic.
- SNF EASILY DELIVERS DECADE’S MOST PRIMETIME BROADCASTS WITH 20+ MILLION VIEWERS
Last night’s San Francisco-Seattle matchup on NBC’s Sunday Night Football was the final NFL game of the Decade of the 2010s. With an average TV-only viewership of 22.8 million, 49ers-Seahawks marks the 104th NBC SNF regular-season game of the decade to average at least 20 million viewers – easily topping all other primetime shows.
Following are regularly-scheduled primetime series this decade with the most telecasts averaging at least 20 million viewers:
Program | # of Shows with 20+ Million Viewers, Since Jan. 1, 2010 |
NBC Sunday Night Football | 104 |
American Idol* | 69 |
Dancing with the Stars* | 25 |
NCIS | 25 |
Thursday Night Football** | 5 |
(Source: Nielsen Live + Same Day Viewing, 1/1/10-12/29/19)
*multiple nights each week; **multiple networks
- SNF POSTS HUGE VIEWERSHIP & RATINGS ADVANTAGES OVER PRIMETIME’S #2 SHOW
NBC Sunday Night Football averaged 20.0 million TV viewers in 2019, which topped the #2 primetime show by 34%. SNF also beat the top scripted series (NCIS) by 75% in the fall, up from last year’s 52% advantage.
Top Fall 2019 Primetime Programs, Viewership (TV only)
Program | Avg. Viewers | SNF Advantage |
Sunday Night Football | 20.0 million | — |
Thursday Night Football* | 14.9 million | 34% |
Monday Night Football | 12.1 million | 65% |
NCIS | 11.4 million | 75% |
60 Minutes | 10.1 million | 99% |
(Source: Nielsen, Live + Same Day Viewing, Sept. 5, 2019-Dec. 29, 2019; regularly-scheduled programs; excludes pre- and post-shows); *11 FOX/NFLN telecasts
SNF averaged an 11.3/22 household rating in posting a 28% advantage over primetime’s #2 show. SNF also easily topped the highest-rated scripted series (NCIS), with a 59% margin (up from a 43% edge last year).
Top Fall 2019 Primetime Programs, U.S. HH Rating (TV only)
Program | U.S. HH Rating | SNF Advantage |
Sunday Night Football | 11.3 | — |
Thursday Night Football* | 8.8 | 28% |
Monday Night Football | 7.2 | 57% |
NCIS | 7.1 | 59% |
60 Minutes | 6.2 | 82% |
(Source: Nielsen, Live + Same Day Viewing, Sept. 5, 2019-Dec. 29, 2019; regularly-scheduled programs; excludes pre- and post-shows); *11 FOX/NFLN telecasts
- DEMO DOMINANCE — SNF WINS ADULT 18-49 DEMO FOR 12TH CONSECUTIVE FALL SEASON
SNF averaged a 6.1 rating in the Adult 18-49 demographic, ranking as primetime television’s #1 show in the advertiser-coveted demo for the 12th consecutive fall TV season.
Top Fall 2019 Primetime Programs, Adult 18-49 Rating (TV only)
Program | Adult 18-49 Rating | SNF Advantage |
Sunday Night Football | 6.1 | — |
Thursday Night Football* | 4.5 | 36% |
Monday Night Football | 3.9 | 56% |
The Masked Singer | 2.1 | 190% |
This is Us | 1.5 | 307% |
(Source: Nielsen, Live + Same Day Viewing, Sept. 5, 2019-Dec. 29, 2019; regularly-scheduled programs; excludes pre- and post-shows); *11 FOX/NFLN telecasts
Additional highlights from the 2019 NBC Sunday Night Football season:
- The Total Audience Delivery (TAD) for the 2019 Sunday Night Football season on NBC and NBC Sports Digital was 5 million viewers – up 5% from last year (19.6 million). For SNF, NBC Sports Group’s Total Audience Delivery measures broader consumption by calculating average minute viewing across broadcast and digital.
- 10 NBC Sunday Night Football games this season averaged 20+ million TV viewers – topping the seven such SNF games last year. Only two other primetime telecasts averaged 20 million viewers this past fall (chart below).
- In each of its 14 seasons (2006-19), Sunday Night Football has averaged at least a 10.0 U.S. household rating (11.3 this season) and a 5.0 rating in the key Adult 18-49 demographic (6.1 this season). Among other primetime shows, only American Idol and Grey’s Anatomy have posted a 10.0 HH rating and a 5.0 demo rating more than twice in that 13-year stretch, and neither has done so since 2011. (Nielsen Live + Same Day Data, 9/5/19-12/29/19; Excludes Pre- and Post-Game Shows)
NBC SNF GAMES PRODUCE 8 OF 10 MOST-WATCHED PRIMETIME SHOWS THIS FALL
NBC Sunday Night Football accounted for eight of the top 10, and 16 of the 20 most-watched primetime telecasts between Sept. 5, 2019 and Dec. 29, 2019.
Following are the programs topping 20 million primetime viewers this fall (TV only):
Program | Telecasts with 20 Million Viewers |
NBC Sunday Night Football | 10 |
FOX World Series | 1 |
ESPN CFP Semifinal | 1 |
Most-Watched Primetime Shows This Fall (Sept. 5, 2019-Dec. 29, 2019), TV only
Show, Date | Avg. Viewers |
NBC Sunday Night Football (Cowboys-Saints), 9/29 | 24.2 million |
FOX World Series (Nationals-Astros, Game 7), 10/30 | 23.2 million |
NBC Sunday Night Football (Vikings-Cowboys), 11/10 | 23.1 million |
NBC Sunday Night Football (49ers-Seahawks), 12/29 | 22.8 million |
NBC Sunday Night Football (Steelers-Patriots), 9/8 | 22.3 million |
NBC Sunday Night Football (Packers-Bears), 9/5 | 22.2 million |
NBC Sunday Night Football (Patriots-Ravens), 11/3 | 22.2 million |
NBC Sunday Night Football (Patriots-Texans), 12/1 | 21.6 million |
NBC Sunday Night Football (Eagles-Cowboys), 10/20 | 21.6 million |
ESPN CFP Semifinal (Ohio State-Clemson), 12/28 | 21.2 million* |
Source: Nielsen, Live + Same Day Data, 9/5/19-12/29/19; Excludes Pre- and Post-Shows
*Viewership across four television networks
SNF AVERAGE (P2+) VIEWERSHIP RANK AMONG PRIMETIME SHOWS:
Fall TV Season Full TV Season
2019 | No. 1 Show | 1st (through 12/29/19) |
2018 | No. 1 Show | 1st |
2017 | No. 1 Show | 1st |
2016 | No. 1 Show | 1st |
2015 | No. 1 Show | 1st |
2014 | No. 1 Show | 1st |
2013 | No. 1 Show | 1st |
2012 | No. 1 Show | 1st |
2011 | No. 1 Show | 1st |
2010 | No. 1 Show | 3rd |
2009 | No. 2 Show | 4th |
2008 | No. 5 Show | 8th |
2007 | No. 7 Show | 8th |
2006 | No. 7 Show | 9th |
Source: The Nielsen Company, Live + Same Day Viewing
SNF SETS STREAMING RECORD: NBC Sports Digital hit another viewership milestone for Sunday Night Football in 2019, with a record Average Minute Audience of 459,000 viewers across NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports app, and NFL Digital platforms – up 44% from the prior record (318,000) set last year.
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL TOP 20 METERED MARKETS – 2019 SEASON:
For the second consecutive year, and fifth time (2010, 2011 and 2013) in 10 seasons, New Orleans was the top-rated SNF market. Milwaukee was the top-rated SNF market in 2017 and 2012, while Denver ranked #1 for three consecutive seasons from 2014-16 (*asterisked markets through Week 16; final data available tomorrow).
1. New Orleans* | 24.7/34 |
2. Kansas City | 20.5/33 |
3. Milwaukee | 19.8/32 |
4. Albuquerque* | 18.1/29 |
5. Pittsburgh | 17.9/28 |
6. Buffalo* | 17.4/27 |
7. Seattle | 16.8/32 |
8. Dallas | 16.3/28 |
9. Minneapolis | 16.1/30 |
T10. Richmond* | 15.6/25 |
T10. Providence | 15.6/27 |
12. Denver | 15.4/28 |
T13. Philadelphia | 14.9/25 |
T13. Las Vegas | 14.9/26 |
T13. Austin | 14.9/28 |
T16. San Diego | 14.8/29 |
T16. Norfolk | 14.8/26 |
18. Indianapolis | 14.4/24 |
19. Chicago | 14.0/25 |
20. San Antonio | 13.9/24 |
NBC will televise an NFC Wild Card game this Sunday, Jan. 5, as the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles (9-7) host the Seattle Seahawks (11-5), with coverage beginning at 4 p.m. ET with a special Football Night in America. The following weekend on NBC, Jimmy Garoppolo and the NFC #1 seed San Francisco 49ers (13-3) host the opening game of the NFL Divisional Playoffs on Saturday, Jan. 11, with coverage beginning at 3 p.m. ET with a special expanded FNIA.
–SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL–