CBS had a double-digit drop in ratings and viewership for Sunday’s NFL national window.
NFL action featuring Patriots/Chargers drew a 13.1 final rating and 21.918 million viewers on CBS, down 22% in ratings and 23% in viewership from Week 7 last year (ATL/DAL*: 16.8, 28.399 mil, FOX), and down 8% and 6%, respectively, from Week 7 two years ago (IND/GB*: 14.2, 23.216 mil, CBS).
This marks the second-lowest rated, second-least viewed NFL national window of the season, ahead of only coverage in Week 5 (TEN/DAL*: 12.7, 20.787 mil).
Additionally, this is the first time all season that ratings have declined for the national window. The previous six telecasts either had increases or were flat compared to last year.
Sunday’s telecast drew a lower rating and fewer viewers than Sunday Night Football on NBC (MIN/GB: 15.4, 25.675 mil), marking the first time since Week 9 last year that the national window has trailed SNF.
* An earlier version of this post said that this was the first time all season that ratings and viewership declined for the NFL national window. While it is true that this is the first ratings decline of the season, the Week 5 national window had a 1% drop in viewership.
