CBS earned its highest NFL overnight rating of the season for the latest battle between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
The Week 9 NFL national window, featuring Broncos/Patriots in 92% of markets, drew an 18.6 overnight rating on CBS Sunday afternoon — up 21% from coverage featuring Steelers/Patriots last year (15.4), up 17% from Steelers/Giants in 2012 (15.9), and the network’s highest NFL overnight of the season. The previous high was an 16.9 for the Week 3 national window.
The 18.6 ranks as the third-highest regular season overnight on CBS since the network resumed NFL coverage in 1998, trailing only the Week 15 national window in 2011 (19.5) and the Week 9 national window in 2007 (22.5). The 2011 match-up featured Broncos/Patriots (albeit with a different Broncos QB) and the 2007 telecast featured the undefeated Patriots against Manning’s Colts.
Overall, the 18.6 is the second-highest overnight of the season on any network. Only the Week 6 national window on FOX, featuring Cowboys/Seahawks, drew a higher rating in the metered markets. The season’s top five telecasts have featured the Cowboys or Broncos.
Last year’s Manning vs. Brady clash, a Week 12 Sunday Night Football game, drew a 17.0 overnight on NBC. Their 2012 meeting drew a 15.7 overnight on CBS.
The early doubleheader window on CBS drew a 7.8 overnight, down 22% from last year (10.0) and down a third from 2012 (11.6). The coverage window featured just three games.
CORRECTION 11/10: This post originally stated that the Week 3 national window had an 18.3 overnight. It actually had a 16.9.
(Sun. overnight from CBS Press Express)
