The NFL on CBS remains on a record pace despite hitting a speedbump in Week 8.
The Week 8 NFL singleheader window drew an 8.4 final rating and 14.1 million viewers on CBS Sunday afternoon, down 24% in ratings and 23% in viewership from coverage featuring Eagles/Cardinals on FOX last year (11.0, 18.4M) and down 10% and 8%, respectively, from coverage on CBS in 2013 (9.3, 15.2M).
The telecast ranks as the least-watched singleheader on any network this season (eight telecasts), falling below the previous mark of 15.8 million in week four.
Despite the decline, the NFL on CBS continues to trend ahead of previous years. Not including the network’s Thursday Night Football simulcasts, CBS has averaged an 11.0 rating and 18.5 million viewers through Week 8 — up 5% in ratings and viewership from last year (10.5, 17.6M).
Viewership is the highest on record for the AFC broadcast package at this point of the season (dates back to 1987) and the rating is the highest since NBC averaged an 11.8 in 1994.
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily; season avg. from CBS Press Express)
