Sunday Night Football: Television's #1 Primetime Show

NBC has a long and proud tradition of broadcasting National Football League games. However, 2012 was particularly remarkable as Super Bowl XLVI became the most-watched show in U.S. television history and Sunday Night Football on NBC, a staple for football fans since 2006, became the No. 1 primetime show on television.

In February, NBC broadcast Super Bowl XLVI from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. More than 111.3 million viewers tuned in to NBC to watch the New York Giants defeat the New England Patriots, 21-17. It was the single-largest audience for any program in U.S. television history. 

NBC’s NFL momentum continued in May when, following the close of the 2011-12 television season, Sunday Night Football, which averaged 21.5 million viewers during the 2011 season, was officially named the No. 1 primetime show on television, becoming the first sports series to ever do so. Sunday Night Football also received critical acclaim in the spring, winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Sports Series for the fourth consecutive year.

Sunday Night Football has continued to reign at No. 1 through the first 12 weeks of 2012, averaging 20.8 million viewers. The September 9 game, in which the Denver Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-19, in Peyton Manning’s first game as quarterback of the Broncos, drew a 16.5 national household rating and a 26 share, the highest-rated Sunday Night Football game ever.

NBC continues its long history with the NFL by delivering more content and coverage than ever to football fans through Football Night in America, hosted by 23-time Emmy Award winner Bob Costas, and NFL Turning Point and Pro Football Talk, broadcast weekly and daily, respectively, on NBC Sports Network.   

NBCSports.com is also a favorite destination for fans looking for news, analysis, live streaming of Sunday Night Football and behind-the-scenes access.