8/27 – NFL Preseason Brings Strong Numbers for NBC and FOX

The NFL preseason may not sound like a marquee sports property, but a makeshift doubleheader on Sunday managed to attract solid numbers on both FOX and NBC. The Panthers/Jets “Sunday Night Football” preseason game drew a 7.5 overnight rating on NBC Sunday night, the second-highest overnight for any preseason game since Titans/Cowboys on ABC in 2004 (8.2). Only the 2010 Cowboys/Bengals Hall of Fame Game (7.6) drew a higher overnight. According to Sports Business Daily, Sunday’s game was up 15% from Saints/Raiders on NBC in Week 3 of last year’s preseason. Overall, the 7.5 overnight is the highest for any non-Olympic sporting event since the MLB All-Star Game in July (8.1). Also Sunday, FOX earned a 5.4 overnight for an afternoon 49ers/Broncos game. There was no comparable afternoon telecast last year. The 5.4 overnight is easily the highest of the preseason for the NFL on FOX. Including games on CBS Friday and Saturday, the NFL preseason accounted for the four highest rated sporting events of the weekend on broadcast in the metered markets, reports Sports Media Watch.

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