rodrust
Practice Squad Player
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2007
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http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=apvyu0xMt7m8
NFL Broadcast Ratings Rise as Patriots' Perfect Year Lures Fans
By Aaron Kuriloff and Erik Matuszewski
Dec. 21 (Bloomberg) -- The New England Patriots' quest for an undefeated season is as big a bonanza for the National Football League as for the team's fans.
While building a 14-0 record, the Patriots have attracted the largest audience in cable television history and the most viewers ever for a Sunday night NFL game. The team also generated the biggest TV audience for a Sunday afternoon game in at least two decades for the most-watched U.S. sports league. Sales of team merchandise are up, too.
``They are just a steam engine going down the tracks,'' said CBS Sports President Sean McManus, whose network is televising this weekend's New England game against the 1-13 Miami Dolphins in Foxborough, Massachusetts. ``The Patriots have been a great story for us. They're the driving force behind our ratings.''
New England is moving toward becoming the second team in the 88-year history of the league to win all of its games. The 1972 Dolphins were the first, taking three postseason games after going 14-0 during the regular season.