For the second time in three weeks, the NFL national window hit a season-low on CBS.
The Week 9 NFL national window, featuring Steelers/Patriots, earned a 14.3 final rating and 24.0 million viewers on CBS last Sunday — down 3% in ratings and 1% in viewership from coverage featuring Steelers/Giants last year (14.7, 24.2M), and down 14% and 15%, respectively, from coverage on FOX featuring Giants/Patriots in 2011 (16.7, 28.2M).
This marks the lowest rated and least-viewed NFL national window of the season. The previous low was set two weeks earlier by coverage on CBS featuring Ravens/Steelers (14.8, 25.3M).
In addition, the Week 9 national window was just the second of the season to have a decline in ratings and viewership compared to last year.
Despite the lower numbers, the NFL national window was easily the top draw of the week. The national window has been the highest rated and most-viewed NFL broadcast in eight of nine weeks this season.
Earlier in the day, regional action on CBS drew an 8.6 final rating and 13.8 million viewers — down 8% in ratings from last year (9.3), and flat and down 2%, respectively, from coverage on FOX featuring Buccaneers/Saints in 2011 (8.6, 14.2M).
(Week 9 finals from Nielsen)
