As the season hits the midpoint, NFL fans continue to tune into games in record numbers.

Following are some fast facts about the NFL on TV at midseason:

• An average of more than 17 million viewers watches each NFL game on television – the highest viewership at this point in a season in 20 years.

• Each of the networks televising NFL games has shown an increase in viewership vs. 2008.

• NFL telecasts are averaging more than double the viewership of the combined average of non-NFL primetime programming on the big four broadcast networks since the beginning of the NFL season (8.3 million viewers on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC).

• The NFL 4:15 PM Sunday national game on CBS and FOX is averaging a combined 23.5 million viewers (up six percent from last year) – making the 4:15 PM window on the two networks the most-watched program on all of television this season.

• NBC Sunday Night Football is the most-watched show in primetime since the NFL season began with an average of 19.5 million viewers (up 22 percent from last year).

• ESPN Monday Night Football is the most-watched show on cable this TV season with an average of 14.6 million viewers (up 18 percent from last year).

• NFL games account for the top six and eight of the 10 most-watched sporting events since Super Bowl XLIII.

Following are the most watched sporting events since Super Bowl XLIII:

Select Read More to see the NFL games that topped the local ratings in 22 NFL markets last week. Following are the NFL markets where football was the top-rated program for the week of Nov. 2-Nov. 8:

* Local affiliate & ESPN combined

Source: NFL & Nielsen Media Research

(THE BIZ OF BASKETBALL)

• Timberwolves File Lawsuit Against AEG Over Target Center Signage
• Clippers Owner Donald Sterling Settles For $2.725M in Housing Discrimination Lawsuit
• Rajon Rondo Reached 5-Year, $55M Extension with Celtics
• NBA.TV Adds Brent Barry to On-Air Talent Roster
• NBA Opening Night on TNT Sees Highest Viewed Regular Season Double-Header Since '96
• Timberwolves Unveil Two New Seating Areas At Target Center

(THE BIZ OF HOCKEY)

• "Buzz" Hargrove Resigns As Interim Ombudsman of NHLPA
• BANKRUPTCY JUDGE APPROVES SALE OF COYOTES TO NHL

(SPORTS BASH)

• Roger Clemens Should Have Listened to Momma
• Hank Steinbrenner, Levine, Selig, Others… Quotes on MLB’s Salary Cap
• The NHLPA Is Sports’ Dysfunctional Stepchild
• Rumor: Liberty Media Backing Out of Purchase of Bodybuilding.com After FDA Raid
• Sammy Sosa Proves Being a Metrosexual Has Its Consequences

(THE BIZ OF BASEBALL)

• Selig Discusses Instant Replay, Economic Parity, More, in Hour Long Interview
• Outgoing MLBPA Exec Dir. Donald Fehr Could Become Advisor to NHLPA
• Ichiro, Torii Hunter Win 9th Consecutive AL Gold Glove Awards
• Pronounced Cracks in Baseball’s Glass Ceiling
• Dan O'Dowd Voted By Peers as MLB Executive of the Year
• Yankees Damon, Matsui Highlight 31 Players Electing Free Agency
• Elias Rankings for the 183 Potential MLB Free Agents

Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is available as a freelance writer. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (select his name in the dropdown provided).

Follow Maury Brown on Twitter

Follow The Biz of Football on Twitter

Follow the Business of Sports Network on Facebook

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed