Viewership for the AFC Championship Game rose to the highest level since the mid-’80s.
The Colts’ win over the Jets drew a 26.3/47 fast-national rating and 46.9 million viewers on CBS Sunday afternoon, up 20% in ratings and 22% in viewership from Eagles/Cardinals on FOX last year (21.9/41, 38.4 mil), and up 2% and 5%, respectively, from Chargers/Patriots in ’08 (25.7/46, 44.8 mil).
The game peaked with a 29.6/50 rating and 54.0 million viewers from 5:30-6 PM.
The 26.3 rating is the highest for the early Conference Championship game since at least ’99, and the highest for the AFC Championship Game in particular since ’06.
Additionally, the 46.9 million viewers is the most for the AFC Championship Game since Patriots/Dolphins in ’86 (47.5 mil).
Excluding the Super Bowl, Jets/Colts ranks as the most-viewed NFL telecast on CBS since the network reacquired rights to the league in ’98.
Ratings/viewership for early Conference Championship game since ’99
| Year | Date | Conf. | Featured game | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2010
|
Sun., 1/24/10 | AFC | Jets/Colts | CBS |
26.3/47
|
46,900
|
| 2009 | Sun., 1/18/09 | NFC | Eagles/Cardinals | FOX |
21.9/41
|
38,387
|
| 2008 | Sun., 1/20/08 | AFC | Chargers/Patriots | CBS |
25.7/46
|
44,840
|
| 2007 | Sun., 1/21/07 | NFC | Saints/Bears | FOX |
25.1/45
|
43,247
|
| 2006 | Sun., 1/22/06 | AFC | Steelers/Broncos | CBS |
23.6/44
|
39,001
|
| 2005 | Sun., 1/23/05 | NFC | Falcons/Eagles | FOX |
25.8/46
|
42,937
|
| 2004 | Sun., 1/18/04 | AFC | Colts/Patriots | CBS |
24.7/46
|
40,115
|
| 2003 | Sun., 1/19/03 | NFC | Buccaneers/Eagles | FOX |
23.8/45
|
38,741
|
| 2002 | Sun., 1/27/02 | AFC | Patriots/Steelers | CBS |
21.2/46
|
33,313
|
| 2001 | Sun., 1/14/01 | NFC | Vikings/Giants | FOX |
20.6/44
|
—
|
| 2000 | Sun., 1/23/00 | AFC | Titans/Jaguars | CBS |
23.2/48
|
—
|
| 1999 | Sun., 1/17/99 | NFC | Falcons/Vikings | FOX |
25.4/54
|
—
|
UPDATE 1/26/10: The Patriots/Dolphins AFC title game mentioned earlier took place in ’86, not ’84.
