Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook

Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

NFL Scores Ratings Touchdown

Recession keeps people on couch on Sunday

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 6, 2009 7:41 AM CST

(Newser) – NFL ratings are through the roof this year, as the recession keeps fans on the couch on Sunday afternoons...and Sunday nights and Monday nights. Ratings are at a 20-year high, with an average 17.2 million watching each game. “The NFL and television are actually getting the so-called ‘benefit’ of the recession,” an ex-CBS Sports exec tells the Washington Post. “People are making conscious decisions that their entertainment dollars are best spent watching NFL games free” on TV.

Since the Super Bowl, 11 of the 12 most-watched sporting events were NFL games, and last week’s Vikings-Packers game was the most-watched network program, period, since February's Academy Awards. “It’s been amazing to me,” says Patriots owner Robert Kraft. “I think there’s been a shift in American culture, with people staying closer to home.” The flip side of course, is that ticket sales are down 2%, as are team merchandise sales.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson (now Chad Ochocinco) operates a television camera after catching a touchdown pass, Nov. 25, 2007. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

New Orleans Saints cornerback Jabari Greer (32) and defensive end Anthony Hargrove (69) celebrate Greer's touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons, Nov. 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

These numbers would not be where they are if big-market teams were not doing what they're doing, if there were not compelling story lines, if the broadcast elements weren't what they are. - David Carter, executive director of the Sports Business Institute at the University of Southern California

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Tim Tebow: I Might Go Into Politics

Denver Broncos star says new career 'could be in my future'

(NEWSER) - Looks like we could be seeing some Tebowing on Capitol Hill: Tim Tebow says he'd consider a political career "if it's something I care about," the Huffington Post reports. "It could be something in my future," he told Dave Feherty on the Golf Channel. It wouldn't be the first time the Denver Broncos quarterback's name turned up in Washington: The 2012 GOP candidates have been seeking his support, but he hasn't endorsed anyone yet. More»

NFL Looks Ahead to Awkward Super Bowl L

2016 could be the year of losers

(NEWSER) - XLVI—the number of Sunday's Super Bowl—may be clunky, but at least it doesn't come with baggage. The NFL is preparing for the 50th Super Bowl in 2016, which will be Super Bowl L. Insiders are wary of T-shirts emblazoned with giant Ls: It could look like fans are just big losers, the Wall Street Journal notes. The "L" hand gesture is more recognizable than ever after TV's Glee adopted it in its logo. Maybe 2016 would "be a nice time to switch over to Arabic numerals," says an ad exec. More»

Kyle Williams Gets Twitter Death Threats

Big game miscues lead to angry online backlash

(NEWSER) - San Francisco fans weren't happy with Kyle Williams last night—and they let him hear it online. After Williams fumbled two punts to essentially cost the 49ers the NFC Championship game, fans lit into him on Twitter, telling him to kill himself and/or "burn in hell," Mashable reports. Perhaps the most ridiculous came from @javpasquel, who tweeted, "@KyleWilliams_10. I hope you, youre(sic) wife, kids and family die, you deserve it." More»

Giants, 49ers, Ravens Head to Championship Games

Next Sunday's games will determine who advances to Super Bowl

(AP) - For Eli Manning and the New York Giants, Lambeau Field has become a familiar launching pad. After beating the Green Bay Packers at home for the second time in four years, they only hope this trip ends the same way—at the Super Bowl. Manning threw three touchdown passes and the Giants shocked the Packers 37-20 in an NFC divisional playoff game today. Manning threw for 330 yards, sending the Giants to San Francisco for the NFC championship game next Sunday night. More»

Tim Tebow's Stats Match Biblical Verse

And so did the fourth-quarter television ratings

(NEWSER) - This might just be a weird coincidence, or Tim Tebow's dramatic defeat of the Steelers last night may have been a miracle in more ways than one. The polarizing Denver quarterback wound up throwing for 316 yards, which, if you toss in a colon in the right spot, mirrors the call number of a famous bible verse, John 3:16. That's a verse Tebow occasionally wrote on his face while playing at the University of Florida, Fox News reports. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

NFL Scores Ratings Touchdown