• by Wayne Friedman , December 24, 2018

Advertising on NFL games for the five ad-supported TV networks are up 3.6% this year through 16 weeks of the season.

Through December 23, the NFL took in $3.71 billion, up from $3.58 billion a year ago, according to iSpot.tv.

Geico had its commercial aired 845 times (estimated to be $131.2 million), followed by Verizon with 798 ($140.1 million); Pizza Hut at 688 ($39.3 million); Burger King with 645, $36.9 million; Bud Light with 602 ($50.9 million); and Progressive Insurance at 506 times ($73.8 million).

Other advertisers include: Ford Motor, 479 ($72.9 million); State Farm, 476 ($58.1 million); and McDonald’s, 466 ($56.5 million); Capital One, 401 ($49.3 million); NFL Shop, 406 (33.7 million); Apple iPhone, 393, ($74 million); Taco Bell, 392 ($17.4 million); and Walmart, 386 ($54.8 million).

Through week 16, Fox tallied 1,855 national and regional airings of its on-air promos, while CBS came in at 1,848, followed by NFL Network at 4,549, NBC with 312, and ESPN at 164.

NFL ratings are 5% higher versus a year ago, to 15.64 million total Nielsen viewers through week 15.