While NFL ratings are running behind 2015's epic early season numbers (all ten windows on CBS, NBC and ESPN declined, while Fox has seen increases according to SportsMediaWatch), the NFL is still dominating the competitions through two weeks. Also in this week's ratings roundup: college football numbers for Alabama-Ole Miss, Ohio State-Oklahoma, Michigan State-Notre Dame, and Florida State-Louisville; the MLS hits a 12-year viewership high with some help from the NFL; NBC sets Verizon IndyCar records; and ESPN scores with its Rio Olympics coverage in Latin America.
NFL Week 2 Rundown
Last week's Thursday Night Football game (New York Jets at the Buffalo Bills) was seen on an average minute audience basis by 15.7 million viewers across all platforms, including CBS Television Network, NFL Network, Twitter, NFL Digital and CBS Interactive. The game was seen by an average of 15.4 million television viewers on CBS and NFL Network, and earned an average national household rating/share of 9.5/18, according to Nielsen live plus same day national ratings. The game's television rating was 20% from the average household rating (7.9 HH) for the 16 games of the 2015 THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL schedule on CBS and NFL Network (and over-the-air stations). Television viewership of the Jets-Bills game peaked at 16.4 million viewers with a HH rating/share of 10.1/18 from 9:00-9:30 PM, ET. The 2015 THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL premiere on CBS and NFL Network, which featured Denver and Kansas City, earned a 12.9/24, which is the highest-rated THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL game ever. Primetime on CBS and NFL Network last night easily beat the combined viewership of NBC, ABC and FOX (14.3 million vs. 8.1 million; 77%). CBS/NFL Network's viewership of 14.3 million in primetime was 550% better than FOX (2.2m), 393% better than NBC (2.9m) and 377% better than ABC (3.0m).
The average digital audience for THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL's season opener across Twitter, NFL Mobile from Verizon, Watch NFL Network, NFL Game Pass (International) and authenticated users on CBS Digital platforms users was 314,000 with each viewer spending an average of 25 minutes watching the Jets defeat the Bills. In total, all digital properties showing THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL reached 2.4 million viewers. In total, Twitter reached 2.3 million combined worldwide viewers for the NFL THURSDAY NIGHT KICKOFFpregame show and the Jets/Bills game for a minimum of three seconds with that video being 100% in view. For the THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL game alone, Twitter reached 2.1 million viewers. The average audience watching THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL on Twitter properties was 243,000 with each viewer watching an average of 22 minutes of game action
Fox's Week 2 NFL single-header (Dallas/Washington in 36% of markets and Seahawks/Rams in 26%) had an 11.0 final rating and 19.2 million viewers on FOX Sunday afternoon - up 12% in ratings and 15% in viewership from coverage on CBS last year (9.8, 16.7M) but down 3% and 1%, respectively, from 2014 on FOX (11.3, 19.4M). (SMW)
CBS's Week 2 NFL national window, featuring Colts/Broncos in 74% of markets, earned a 12.2 final rating and 21.4 million viewers on CBS Sunday afternoon - down 21% in ratings and viewership from Cowboys/Eagles on FOX last year (15.5, 27.2M) and down 15% and 14%, respectively, from coverage featuring Chiefs/Broncos on CBS in 2014 (14.4, 24.9M). (SMW)
NBC's The Week 2 Packers/Vikings Sunday Night Football game earned a 12.7 final rating and 22.8 million viewers on NBC, down 16% in ratings and 14% in viewership from Seahawks/Packers last year, the most-watched Week 2 primetime game since 1991 (15.1, 26.4M). Compared to Bears/49ers in 2014, ratings dropped 2% (from 12.9) but viewership increased 3% (from 22.2M). (SMW)
This week's ESPN Monday Night Football game (Philadelphia Eagles' 29-14 victory over the Chicago Bears) earned a 7.3 final rating and 12.1 million viewers on ESPN, down 10% in ratings and 3% in viewership from Jets/Colts last year (8.1, 12.5M) and the lowest rating ever for MNF in Week 2 of the season (previously 7.7 for Washington/Philadelphia in 2007), according to SMW. Nonetheless, ESPN won the night among all networks (broadcast or cable) in households, viewers and all key male and adult demos for the second time in as many weeks. The MNF game ranked as the #1 telecast of the night among all key male demos and adults 18-34 and 18-49.
Eagles-Bears delivered a total live audience (TV Streaming) of 12,468,000 average viewers. On TV (ESPN and ESPN Deportes), the game delivered 12,173,000 average viewers. On ESPN, the game averaged a 7.3 US household rating. ESPN's streaming audience attracted an additional average minute audience of 295,000 viewers - the third-highest streaming audience ever for MNF (behind last week's season-opening doubleheader games).
In Philadelphia, the game delivered a 16.2 rating on ESPN and a 13.4 on WPHL-IND, for a combined 29.6 rating in the market. In Chicago, the game delivered an 11.1 rating on ESPN and a 10.9 on WCIU-IND, for a combined 22.0 rating in the market. The game rating peaked on television from 9:30-9:45 p.m. with an 8.7 household rating and 14,480,000 viewers.
The newly-minted Los Angeles Rams have yet to catch on their new city, while also struggling in their previous home. The team's first regular-season game in the Los Angeles area since returning after a 21-year stint in St. Louis (a 9-3 Rams win televised on Fox) was was seen in just 12 percent of homes in that market with a TV. Only three times in their two-plus decades in St. Louis did the Rams have a lower rating. In St. Louis, the game, shown on KTVI (Channel 2), drew just 6.8 percent of St. Louis homes with a TV. That was the lowest rating of the four NFL games televised locally that day (St. Louis Post Dispatch)
Col
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While NFL ratings are running behind 2015's epic early season numbers (all ten windows on CBS, NBC and ESPN declined, while Fox has seen increases according to SportsMediaWatch), the NFL is still dominating the competitions through two weeks. Also in this week's ratings roundup: college football numbers for Alabama-Ole Miss, Ohio State-Oklahoma, Michigan State-Notre Dame, and Florida State-Louisville; the MLS hits a 12-year viewership high with some help from the NFL; NBC sets Verizon IndyCar records; and ESPN scores with its Rio Olympics coverage in Latin America. 
