Arizona Cardinals continue to draw record TV ratings
Oct 22, 2014, 9:53 PM | Updated: 9:54 pm
The Arizona Cardinals have started the season 5-1 for the first time since 1976, and Valley TV viewers have taken notice.
This season’s television ratings are the highest ever for the Cardinals through the first six games.
Last Sunday’s win over the Oakland Raiders was watched in 486,000 Valley households, garnering a 26.5 rating with a 50 share, according to the NFL and The Nielsen Company. That is the highest ever rating for a Cardinals Week 7 game.
The last four Cardinals games have been watched by half of local television viewers at the time of broadcast. Cardinals games are the most-watched programs of any kind in the market.
The average number of viewers for the 2014 season is 474,000 Phoenix area homes.
The team’s television numbers have increased 30 percent since last year, the largest jump in the NFL. The Carolina Panthers, second on the list, have a 15 percent increase.
Arizona’s 11-game streak of 400,000 or more viewers dates back to last season, and is the longest streak in team history.
The Cardinals play the Philadelphia Eagles at home Sunday.