FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NFL 2004 TV RECAP

NFL GAMES ACCOUNT FOR 4 OF TOP 11 NETWORK PROGRAMS;
5 OF TOP 6 AMONG MEN 18-34 & MEN 18-49;
8 OF TOP 10 CABLECASTS

Football fans across the country tuned their televisions at impressive rates to NFL regular-season games. Consider the following end-of-season facts:

NFL viewership on broadcast television finished ahead of network primetime viewership by its widest margin ever. NFL games on ABC, CBS and FOX averaged 15.4 million viewers – 57 percent higher than the average primetime viewership among the four major over-the-air networks (9.8 million average on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC).

NFL games account for four of the top 11 programs on network television this season (see chart below). In addition, NFL games account for the five of the top six shows among men 18-34 and five of the top six programs among men 18-49 (see charts below).

ESPN NFL games accounted for eight of the 10 most-watched basic cable programs in 2004 (see chart below).

NFL games were the top-ranked program locally a record 68 percent of the time. Out of 508 local rating weeks this season, the No. 1 spot for the week for all programs in those individual markets went to an NFL game 347 times. That means that more than seven of 10 times the NFL game drew higher local ratings than Survivor, CSI or any other popular TV show.

NFL pregame shows fared well in viewing households this season. FOX NFL Sunday viewership was up five percent to 5.2 million viewers. ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown (Sunday morning) was up two percent to 2.43 million viewers and CBS’ The NFL Today was even at 3.5 million viewers.

Broadcast Notes:

Regional -- First window of a doubleheader

National -- Second window of a doubleheader

Single -- Only window on network not airing doubleheader that week.

Following are the top network television programs nationally in average total viewers each week:

*Network*
Program	Viewers
1. CSI	26.4 million
2. Desperate Housewives	22.6 million
3. FOX National Game	19.81 million
4. CSI: Miami	19.75 million
5. Survivor: Vanuatu	19.6 million
6. CBS National Game	19.4 million
7. Without A Trace	18.9 million
8. Everybody Loves Raymond	17.0 million
9. ABC Monday Night Football	16.4 million
10. Two and a Half Men	16.2 million
11. FOX Single Game	16.0 million

Following are this season’s top 15 programs on network television in key demographics (avg. rating):

Men 18-34

Men 18-49

Program

Rating

Program

Rating

1. FOX National Game

8.9

1. FOX National Game

10.9

2. CBS National Game

8.3

2. CBS National Game

10.2

3. ABC Monday Night Football

7.8

3. ABC Monday Night Football

9.1

4. FOX Single Game

7.4

4. FOX Single Game

8.7

5. The Simpsons

6.7

5. CSI

7.8

6. CBS Single Game

6.6

6. CBS Single Game

7.7

6. Desperate Housewives

6.6

7. Desperate Housewives

7.4

8. Apprentice 2

6.0

8. FOX NFL Postgame

6.2

9. CSI

5.4

8. Survivor: Vanuatu

6.2

10. Fox NFL Postgame

5.3

10. ABC NFL Monday Showcase

6.1

11. ABC NFL Monday Showcase

5.2

11. Apprentice 2

6.0

12. ABC NFL Monday Postgame

5.1

12. FOX Regional Game

5.9

13. CBS Regional Game

4.9

13. The Simpsons

5.8

13. FOX Regional Game

4.9

14. CBS Regional Game

5.7

15. E.R.

4.5

15. CSI: Miami

5.5

Source: NFL, Nielsen Media Research, 9/9/04-1/2/05

Following are the most watched programs on basic cable in 2004:

Program, Date	Households
1. ESPN NFL Football (Ravens-Colts), 12/19	8.4 million
2. ESPN NFL Football (Steelers-Jaguars), 12/5	8.1 million
3. ESPN NFL Football (Chiefs-Broncos), 9/12	7.5 million
4. ESPN NFL Football (Packers-Texans), 11/21	7.4 million
5. ESPN NFL Football (Eagles-Redskins), 12/12	7.3 million
6. ESPN NFL Football (Raiders-Broncos), 11/28	7.2 million
7. ESPN NFL Football (Bucs-Raiders), 9/26	7.0 million
8. MTV Video Music Awards, 8/29	6.85 million
9. ESPN NFL Football (Dolphins-Bengals), 9/19	6.83 million
10. TNT NBA Playoff Game, 5/31	6.5 million

Source: NFL, Nielsen Media Research, 1/1/04-12/31/04