NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL is off to a strong start in its TV ratings after drawing big numbers last season.
Thursday’s Vikings-Saints opener earned the highest preliminary rating for a regular-season, prime-time game in 13 years. NBC said Friday that New Orleans’ 14-9 win in a rematch of the NFC championship drew a 17.7 overnight rating and 28 share.
That’s the best in prime time in the regular season since the Broncos-49ers game in 1997. It’s by far the highest rating for a Thursday night opener since the NFL started such games in 2002.
Ratings represent the percentage of all homes with televisions tuned into a program. Shares represent the percentage of all homes with TVs in use at the time. Overnight ratings measure the country’s largest markets.
