Despite losing one of the highest-profile games of the year to FOX, CBS earned its best NFL singleheader overnight of the season.
The Week 15 NFL singleheader drew a 12.3 overnight rating on CBS, up 14% from last year but down 11% from coverage on FOX featuring Giants/Falcons in 2012 (13.8). The 12.3 is the highest of the season for the singleheader on CBS (eight telecasts), topping the previous mark of 11.7 in Week 11.
Including FOX telecasts, the 12.3 is tied as the fourth-highest of the season for the singleheader.
The singleheader topped the early doubleheader window on FOX (11.0). While that is not unusual, the FOX telecast featured Bengals/Browns in nearly half the country — Johnny Manziel‘s first NFL start. CBS lost Bengals/Browns to FOX as part of the NFL’s new ‘cross-flex’ policy.
(Sun. numbers from Sports Business Daily)
