ESPN, Fox earn record NFL opener ratings

[September 11, 2013]  NEW YORK (AP) -- San Francisco's victory over Green Bay was the highest-rated and most-watched telecast of any kind since the Academy Awards in February, leading Fox to its best NFL opening week ever.

Sunday's game earned a 16.6 rating and was watched by 28.5 million viewers, the network says Tuesday.

The Philadelphia Eagles' victory over Washington earned an 11.6 overnight rating, the highest for a Monday Night Football opener on ESPN.

ESPN began showing Monday Night Football in 2006. Its previous best opener was for Baltimore against the Jets in 2010.

CBS earned an 11.2 rating for its regional coverage, its highest in 14 years for the opening week.

[Associated Press]

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