Ratings game

Everybody seems to have a theory why the NFL’s television ratings are falling. But a closer look at the numbers provides a clearer picture of what is happening: 10: “Thursday Night Football” games shared among CBS and NBC in 2016 and 2017, worth a reported $450 million combined. CBS’s deal to air eight games in 2015 was reported to be worth $300 million. 13 million: Average viewers for Thursday night’s 16-game schedule on CBS and the NFL Network in 2015. It also averaged a 7.9 household rating, making 2015 the mostwatched and highest-rated “TNF” season ever. 16 percent: Drop in total viewership in CBS’s and the NFL Network’s five “TNF” games through Oct. 20. $1.9 billion: Annual cost of ESPN’s NFL rights deal, which includes “Monday Night Football,” video and highlights, the draft and other programming, according to The New York Times. The deal runs through 2021. 17 percent: Drop in viewership this year, to 10.7 million, for “MNF.” 7: Consecutive weeks (5-11) in which “MNF” had an average rating below 7.0. 8.9: Overnight rating for the Packers-Eagles game on ESPN, the highest “MNF” overnight in Week 12 of a season since 2013, according to Sports Media Watch. 35.1 million: Average viewers for the Cowboys’ victory over the archrival Redskins on Thanksgiving, the most-watched regularseason game ever on Fox. $455,310: Average cost of a 30-second ad during NFL telecasts on NBC, CBS, Fox and ESPN in October, up 4 percent over the same period last year, according to Standard Media Index. 20: Required commercial breaks per game, 10 in each half.