The season’s first NFL national window hit a six-year low in ratings and viewership on CBS.
The Week 1 NFL national window, featuring Ravens/Broncos in 80% of markets, drew a 13.5 final rating and 23.3 million viewers on CBS last Sunday — down 14% in ratings and 17% in viewership from coverage featuring 49ers/Cowboys last year (15.7, 28.0M) and down 19% and 18%, respectively, from Packers/49ers in 2013 (16.6, 28.5M). Prior to this year, the Week 1 national window aired on FOX from 2001-14.
Sunday’s telecast ranks as the lowest rated and least-watched Week 1 national window since 2008, when coverage featuring Cowboys/Browns drew a 13.0 and 20.9 million. Keep in mind CBS faced head-to-head competition from the singleheader window on FOX in 32% of markets. When the Week 1 national window aired on FOX, it would air unopposed because of CBS U.S. Open coverage.
Compared to CBS’ first national window last year — coverage featuring Chiefs/Broncos in Week 2 — ratings and viewership declined by 6% and 7%, respectively, from a 14.4 and 24.9 million.
The national window trailed NBC’s Sunday Night Football by 12% in ratings (15.4 to 13.5), 13% in viewership (26.8M to 23.3M) and 21% among adults 18-49 (10.1 to 8.0).
UPDATE 9/26: The early window scored 14.9 million viewers earlier in the day, up 6% from coverage featuring Saints/Falcons last year (14.1M) and up 2% from coverage featuring Falcons/Saints in 2013 (14.6M), both on FOX. The rating was not available.
(Sun. numbers via TV Media Insights; additional info from Sports Business Daily)
