FOR USE AS DESIRED

 

 

NFL-9                 3/3/03

 

 


NFL: ULTIMATE REALITY TV

The February sweeps have just concluded (Feb. 26), the numbers are in… and NFL games continue to be television’s ultimate “reality” series, drawing more viewers than any other “reality” or sports programming.

Since the 2002 season kicked off on September 5, NFL games broke the 25-million viewer mark 10 times (Super Bowl pre- and post-game shows had four additional viewing blocks also exceeding 25 million viewers).  Topping the chart is Super Bowl XXXVII on January 26, which averaged 88.6 million viewers at any point in the game, according to Nielsen Media Research. (Super Bowl XXXVII is also the most-watched program ever in terms of total viewers with 138.9 million.) 

Following are the most-watched sporting events and reality series since September 5:

Program

Network

Date

Average Viewers

Super Bowl XXXVII

ABC

1/26/03

88.6 million

AFC Championship Game

CBS

1/19/03

41.4 million

Joe Millionaire (finale – second hour)

FOX

2/17/03

40.0 million

NFC Championship Game

FOX

1/19/03

38.7 million

AFC Divisional Playoff (Jets-Raiders)

CBS

1/12/03

35.1 million

World Series – Game 7

FOX

10/27/02

30.8 million

NFC Wildcard Playoff (Giants-49ers)

FOX

1/5/03

29.8 million

Joe Millionaire (finale - first hour)

ABC

2/17/03

29.2 million

Fiesta Bowl

ABC

1/3/03

29.1 million

AFC Divisional Playoff (Steelers-Titans)

CBS

1/11/03

28.5 million

NFC Divisional Playoff (49ers-Bucs)

FOX

1/12/03

28.1 million

AFC Wildcard Playoff (Browns-Steelers)

CBS

1/5/02

27.4 million

American Idol (premiere)

FOX

1/21/03

26.5 million

NFC Wildcard Playoff (Falcons-Packers)

ABC

1/4/03

26.3 million

American Idol

FOX

1/29/03

25.9 million

The Bachelor (finale)

ABC

11/20/02

25.8 million

FOX National Game (mostly Packers-Jets)

FOX

12/29/02

25.0 million

American Idol

FOX

1/22/03

25.0 million

Source: NFL, Nielsen Media Research