Chiefs rank seventh in TV ratings despite 15.8 percent decline
The Chiefs ranked seventh in the NFL in average local television ratings in 2014, but their average rating of 36.1 percent of television households represented a decrease of 15.8 percent from 2013, according to Sports Business Journal.
In 2013, the Chiefs averaged a 42.9 rating during an 11-5 playoff season in Andy Reid’s first year as coach. (In 2012, the Chiefs averaged just 30.3 during a 2-14 season).
The Chiefs’ decrease in local ratings during a 9-7, nonplayoff season, was the third-biggest decline, following New Orleans, which fell 17.7 percent, and Tennessee, 17.1.
The league averaged a 28.2 local rating, down slightly from 2013 (28.5) but still higher than figures from 2012 (27.8) and 2011 (27.4)
The Green Bay Packers led all teams with a 45.2 local rating in Milwaukee (up 5.4 percent), regaining the top spot from New Orleans, which still had a 42.8 but plunged 17.7 percent from 2013.
The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks ranked No. 3 with a 42.3 rating in the Seattle-Tacoma market, up 9.6 percent from 2013.
The Arizona Cardinals saw the biggest single-season increase in local ratings among all NFL teams. The Cardinals, who qualified for the playoffs in the rugged NFC West, drew a 27.5 local rating in Phoenix for their games, up 28 percent from last season and up 43 percent from three seasons ago. Other NFL teams seeing strong gains from last year were the Browns (18.5 percent), Bills (14.8) Jaguars (13.3) and Chargers (10.2) While the Broncos (41.5) were down 4.6 percent from 2013, the team’s figure is still up 31 percent from 2011, the season before quarterback Peyton Manning arrived in Denver.
Besides New Orleans, Kansas City and Tennessee, other teams that experienced falling ratings from last year included Washington (minus-14.7, Chicago, (minus-12.6) and Carolina (minus 10.3). Both the New York Giants and Jets were down 9 percent. The Raiders, at 10.9, had the lowest local rating among all NFL clubs for at least the fourth straight season.
Here’s the top 10 NFL teams in local television ratings:
Team | 2014 | 2013 | Change |
Green Bay | 45.2 | 42.9 | 5.4 percent |
New Orleans | 42.8 | 52.0 | minus17.7 |
Seattle | 42.3 | 38.6 | 9.6 |
Denver | 41.5 | 43.5 | minus 4.6 |
Pittsburgh | 38.2 | 38.2 | 0.0 |
Buffalo | 37.7 | 32.8 | 14.8 |
Kansas City | 36.1 | 42.9 | minus 15.8 |
New England | 35.5 | 34.1 | 4.1 |
Indianapolis | 34.3 | 36.6 | minus 6.4 |
Cleveland | 34.3 | 20.0 | 18.5 |
To reach Randy Covitz, call 816-234-4796 or send email to rcovitz@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter at @randycovitz.
This story was originally published January 9, 2015 at 2:31 PM with the headline "Chiefs rank seventh in TV ratings despite 15.8 percent decline."