According to the NFL Network, it's airing Thursday night of part one of A Football Life: Bill Belichick, was the most-watched documentary in the network's eight years on the air.
The one-hour show averaged 657,000 viewers during its premiere in the 9 p.m. hour on Sept. 15, according to Nielsen data. Another 252,000 tuned in the encore that ran immediately thereafter.
Not surprisingly, the New England Patriots coach drew hometown interest, with 151,000 in the Boston DMA watching the debut. According to NFL Network, which aforned famous statues in the area with Belichick's preferred sideline attir, the hoodie, in a marketing stunt, the topped all broadcast networks that night and was beaten only by another area sports icon, coverage of the Boston Red Sox-Tampa Bay Rays game.
So, how many docs did Belichick beat out on his way to the Super Bowl ring of NFL Net doc audience? "NFL Network has aired done more than 100 documentaries in our history [since Nov. 3, 2003]," said spokesman Dennis Johnson.
The doc, from NFL Films, springs from Belichick's agreement to be wired for sound for the entire 2009 season, the Patriot's 50th anniversary. The two-parter is the first installment of NFL Net's A Football Life documentary series.
Part two is slated for Sept. 22 at 10 p.m.
