The Week 1 NFL national window, featuring 49ers/Packers, drew a 15.4 final rating and 26.4 million viewers on FOX Sunday afternoon — up a tick in ratings and 2% in viewership from coverage featuring Giants/Washington last year (15.3, 25.802M), but down 7% and 6%, respectively, from coverage featuring Packers/Eagles in 2010 (16.5, 28.023M).
The telecast earned the second-largest audience ever for Week 1 NFL coverage on FOX, trailing only the 2010 national window.
Despite the strong numbers, the national window was not the highest rated and most-viewed NFL telecast of the week. The Steelers/Broncos Sunday night game earned a 16.5 and over 27.567 million.
Also Sunday, regional action featuring Washington/Saints drew an 8.0 final rating on FOX — even with coverage featuring Eagles/Rams last year (8.0), but down a tick from coverage featuring Panthers/Giants in 2010 (8.1), reports Sports Media Watch.