34.5 Million Viewers for Patriots-Giants

The NFL's decision to put Saturday night's Patriots-Giants game on NBC and CBS in addition to NFL Network paid off to the tune of 34.5 million viewers, the NFL said today.

That makes Patriots-Giants the most-watched television program of the current TV season, bumping off this year's Patriots-Colts game, which had been the most-watched program. (Patriots-Steelers is third, Patriots-Cowboys is fourth, and the season premiere of CSI is fifth.)

The game did a stunning 75 share in Boston. To put that in perspective, Game 3 of the World Series did a 71 share in Boston this year.

Sports Media Watch has information about the specific numbers for the two over-the-air networks.

After the jump, the NFL Network's full press release.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL Network 12/30/07

NFL NETWORK TELECAST OF PATRIOTS-GIANTS

MOST-WATCHED SHOW OF CURRENT TV SEASON

Historic Three-Network National Telecast on

NFL Network, CBS & NBC Draws 34.5 Million Viewers

History was made on Saturday night as the New England Patriots became the first team in NFL history to complete a 16-0 regular season with a thrilling 38-35 victory over the New York Giants on NFL Network's Saturday Night Football telecast. The telecast was also the first in league history to air on three networks nationally with simulcasts on CBS and NBC and local over-the-air partners WWOR in New York, WCVB in Boston and WMUR in Manchester.

Based on fast national ratings, an average of 34.5 million viewers* tuned into Patriots-Giants – ranking as the most watched show of the current television season and the most-watched program since the Academy Awards on February 25 (*viewership through final gun). Patriots-Giants is the most-watched NFL regular-season game since Thanksgiving 1995 (35.7 million for Chiefs-Cowboys).

Locally, the game earned a 24.0 rating/40 share in New York, a 50.1/75 in Boston.

MOST-WATCHED SHOWS, CURRENT TV SEASON

Date	Program (Game)	Viewers
*Dec. 29*	*NFL Network Saturday Night Football (Patriots-Giants)*	*34.5 million*
*Nov. 4*	*CBS Sunday National (mostly Patriots-Colts)*	*33.8 million*
*Dec. 9*	*CBS Sunday National (mostly Steelers-Patriots)*	*30.3 million*
*Oct. 14*	*CBS Sunday National (mostly Patriots-Cowboys)*	*29.1 million*
Sept. 27	CSI (season premiere)	25.4 million

MOST-WATCHED TV PROGRAMS IN 2007

Date	Program (Game)	Viewers
Feb. 4	Super Bowl XLII (Colts-Bears)	93.2 million
Jan. 21	AFC Championship Game (Patriots-Colts)	46.7 million
Jan. 21	NFC Championship Game (Saints-Bears)	43.2 million
Feb. 25	Academy Awards	40.2 million
Jan. 16	American Idol (season premiere)	37.4 million
Jan. 17	American Idol (premiere week)	36.9 million
*Dec. 29*	*Saturday Night Football (Patriots-Giants)*	*34.5 million*