Nielsen: Packers have top local fan base in NFL

Nielsen recently released its “State of the Media: 2013 in Sports Media” report, providing insights into how sports fans engaged with their favorite teams last year.

According to the rankings, the Packers finished first in the NFL in the “Local Fan Bases” category. Defined as the “percent of population that has watched, attended or listened to the team in the past 12 months,” Green Bay led the way with 88%, followed by the New Orleans Saints (81%) and Pittsburgh Steelers (78%).

Green Bay’s Wild Card Playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers was mentioned as a highlight of the NFL season, pulling in an average of 47.1M TV viewers. Super Bowl XLVIII led the charge with 108.7M viewers.

Packers vs. Giants was most-watched Divisional game ever

Sunday’s New York Giants-Green Bay Packers game on FOX drew an average of 45.1 million viewers to rank as the most-watched Divisional Playoff game ever, topping the record set last year by Jets-Patriots (43.5 million viewers). Giants-Packers is the most-watched show since Super Bowl XLV.

Most-Watched Shows on Television, Week of Jan. 9-15, 2012

Program, Average Viewers
1. FOX Sunday Divisional Playoff (Giants-Packers) 45.1 million
2. FOX Saturday Divisional Playoff (Saints-49ers) 35.6 million
3. CBS Saturday Divisional Playoff (Broncos-Patriots) 34.2 million
4. CBS Sunday Divisional Playoff (Texans-Ravens) 31.0 million
5. ESPN BCS Championship (Alabama-LSU) 24.2  million

Source: NFL & The Nielsen Company