December 26th, 2011

via press release:

BEARS-PACKERS CHRISTMAS NIGHT GAME ON “Sunday Night Football” EARNS 12.6 OVERNIGHT rating

Highest NFL Christmas Primetime Rating Since 1995

Milwaukee Leads Metered Markets With 45.8/73; Chicago is Second With 29.2/55

Sunday Night Football Is No. 1 Show of Primetime Television Season

NEW YORK – December 26, 2011 – The Packers secured home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with their dominating 35-21 victory over the Bears at historic Lambeau Field on Christmas night on Sunday Night Football. Last night’s game earned a 12.6 overnight rating and a 25 share, according to overnight data released today by The Nielsen Company.

Bears-Packers produced the highest overnight rating for a game played on Christmas night since 1995 (Cowboys-Cardinals, 14.0/28 on ABC). The 12.6 for last night’s game is one percent higher than the last game played on Christmas night (Eagles-Cowboys, 12.5/29 on Christmas 2006 on NBC), and 19 percent higher than the Christmas night game in 2000 (Cowboys-Titans, 10.6/21 on ABC). Last year’s Week 16 game (Vikings-Eagles, 15.2/24) was an anomaly, played on a Tuesday night due to a snow postponement.

TOP 10 METERED MARKETS FOR BEARS-PACKERS:

1. Milwaukee, 45.8/73
2. Chicago, 29.2/55
3. New Orleans, 20.7/32
4. Las Vegas, 18.5/33
5. Minneapolis, 17.9/37
6. Nashville, 17.3/28
7. Albuquerque, 16.6/29
8. Greenville/Spartanburg, 15.5/25
9. Norfolk, 14.8/26
10. Richmond, 14.7/25

SNF DOMINATES PRIMETIME: Through 15 weeks of the NFL season (15 Sundays and one Thursday), Sunday Night Football is averaging 21.0 million viewers, and a household rating of 12.7/20.

For the primetime television season,* Sunday Night Football ranks as the most-watched (persons 2+) and highest-rated show, and the No. 1 program across the key demographics of Adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 as well as Men 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54, based on Nielsen live + same day data. Additionally, SNF is the No. 5 show among Women 18-34 and Women 18-49.

*NOTE: The primetime television season began on Sept. 19 and does not include the first three NBC primetime games (Thursday night NFL Kickoff Opener and first two SNF games).

**Viewership numbers will be available when national ratings are released Wednesday.**

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--NBC SPORTS GROUP--

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