CBS drew the biggest ratings of any NFL rightsholder during Week 10.
The late Sunday afternoon window on CBS, featuring Colts/Steelers, drew a 13.6/26 final rating and 22.4 million viewers, down 13% and 11%, respectively, from a 15.6 and 25.1 million for last year’s comparable Cowboys/Giants game on FOX. Though down from last year, Colts/Steelers was still the highest rated, most viewed sporting event of the weekend. Ratings peaked at a 16.9/29 from 7-7:15 PM.
While CBS took the ratings crown, NBC drew its third highest rating of the season on the strength of its Giants/Eagles Sunday Night Football matchup. The Giants’ victory drew an 11.0/18 final rating and 17.6 million viewers on NBC Sunday night, up 2% and 1%, respectively, from a 10.8/18 and 17.3 million for last year’s Colts/Chargers tilt. Ratings peaked early, as NBC drew an 11.7/18 from 9:30-9:45 PM.
As mentioned before, the 11.0 makes Giants/Eagles the third highest rated Sunday Night Football telecast of the season, behind an 11.2 for Bears/Colts and a 13.3 for Cowboys/Packers.
On the cable front, ESPN drew a 7.6/12 final national rating and 11.9 million viewers for 49ers/Cardinals on Monday night, up 31% and 33%, respectively, from a 5.8 with 9 million for last year’s comparable Seahawks/49ers game. The 11.9 million viewers makes the game the fourth most viewed of the season on ESPN.
Finally, the NFL Network got off to a rough start last Thursday. Broncos/Browns drew 3.1 million viewers on the NFL Network last Thursday night, down 27% from the first game on the network last year, a Colts/Falcons game on Thanksgiving night. Last week marked the earliest date the NFL Network has ever aired a regular season game.
Viewership for national NFL telecasts during Week 10.
3.1 mil: Broncos/Browns (Thu., 11/6, 8 PM NFL Network)
22.4 mil: Colts/Steelers (Sun., 11/9, 4:15 PM CBS)
17.6 mil: Giants/Eagles (Sun., 11/9, 8:15 PM NBC)
11.9 mil: 49ers/Cardinals (Mon., 11/10, 8:30 PM ESPN)
