The NFL’s Thanksgiving Day slate delivered milestone numbers on CBS and NBC.
The Panthers/Cowboys NFL regular season game earned a 15.3 overnight rating on CBS Thursday afternoon, up 2% from Eagles/Cowboys on FOX last year (15.0) and up 3% from Raiders/Cowboys on CBS in 2013 (14.8). Overnights peaked at a 16.2 from 5:30-6 PM ET.
The Panthers’ blowout win tied the highest overnight for a Thanksgiving game on CBS since the network resumed coverage in 1998, matching Bears/Lions last year and Dolphins/Cowboys in 2011. Overall, it drew the NFL’s highest overnight on the holiday — regardless of network — since Packers/Lions on FOX in 2011 (15.8).
Over on NBC, Bears/Packers had a 14.6 overnight — up 17% from 49ers/Seahawks last year (12.5), up 24% from Steelers/Ravens in 2013 (11.8), and the highest overnight for the primetime Thanksgiving game since the window was added in 2006.
The Bears’ surprise win peaked with a 15.3 from 10-10:30 PM ET and again from 11:30-11:45 PM — Brett Favre‘s jersey retirement and the conclusion of the game, respectively.
UPDATE 11/30: FOX started the Thanksgiving tripleheader with a 13.8 for Eagles/Lions, down 10% from Bears/Lions on CBS last year (15.3) and down 2% from Packers/Lions on FOX in 2013 (14.1).
(Thu. numbers from CBS Sports, NBC Sports, Sports Business Daily)
