When you look at the overall numbers, the New York Jets-New England Patriots game on CBS/NFL Network easily beat Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Fox Sports 1.
The combined rating of 10.1 for Thursday Night Football outpaced what Fox Sports 1 garnered, 3.1 for the NLCS series-clinching game. But as most of the 16.1 million viewers who watched TNF went to CBS (13.2), 2.9 million watched on cable’s NFL Network. As for the NLCS on Fox Sports 1, the total viewership was 4.9 million viewership. Granted, most of that was in the over-50 demographic which is practically avoided at all costs by the networks, but the overall viewership on cable did beat TNF. Although the NFL Network-exclusive TNF in 2013 did draw 6.8 million viewers for the Week 7 game.
In the all-important 18-49 demographic, Jets-Pats on NFL Network drew a 1.24 rating. NLCS Game 4 on FS1 saw a 1.16. Yes, if you round off, they’re both at 1.2, but when you go to the hundredth of a point, football still beats baseball.
For Thursday Night Football, the combined numbers on CBS/NFLN are consistent with the season. The package through six games has been averaging at 10.0 rating with a 17 share. Viewership has been solid with 16.1 million watching each week. The numbers have outpaced Monday Night Football on ESPN which averages an 8.3 rating and 13.4 million viewers, but behind Sunday Night Football on NBC at 20.1 million viewers.
As for the NLCS, Fox is happy about the numbers for the series on Fox Sports 1. Four games aired on the network and three set viewership records for FS1, however, when compared to last year, the numbers were down significantly. Still, the overall numbers are good news for Fox as it tries to build Fox Sports 1 from scratch. Yet, the older demographics that baseball draws have to be a concern as well.
[Show Buzz Daily/Sports Media Watch]
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About Ken Fang
Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.
He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.
Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.