NFL game ranks as most-watched show on TV for seventh consecutive week

Games Top Local Ratings in 25 of 30 NFL Markets

The CBS national telecast (mostly N.Y. Jets-New England) was the most watched TV program last week (Oct. 15-21) topping all sports and entertainment competition with 23.0 million viewers. This marks the seventh time in seven weeks that an NFL game has topped the viewership charts (up from six times in the first seven weeks in 2011).

For the season, NFL games rank as the 11 most-watched TV shows since Labor Day. Following are the most-watched programs this fall:

Program	Viewers
1. NBC Sunday Night Football (Steelers-Broncos), 9/9	27.6 million
2. FOX Sunday National (mostly 49ers-Packers), 9/9	26.4 million
3. CBS Sunday National (mostly Broncos-Patriots), 10/7	24.5 million
4. CBS Sunday National (mostly Texans-Broncos), 9/23	24.0 million
5. NBC Wed. Night Kickoff Game (Cowboys-Giants), 9/5	23.9 million
6. CBS Sunday National (mostly Jets-Patriots), 10/21	23.0 million
7. FOX Sunday National (mostly Giants-49ers), 10/14	22.8 million
8. NBC Sunday Night Football (Giants-Eagles), 9/30	22.8 million
9. FOX Sunday National (mostly Saints-Packers), 9/30	22.3 million
10. NBC Sunday Night Football (Lions-49ers), 9/16	21.3 million
11. NBC Sunday Night Football (Patriots-Ravens), 9/23	21.3 million

Locally, NFL games topped ratings in 25 NFL markets last week:

Program	# of NFL Markets Ranked #1
NFL Football	25
MLB Playoffs	3
Dancing with the Stars	1
Big Bang Theory	1