The NFL’s highest rated television window delivered its lowest overnight in seven years.
The Week 9 NFL national window, featuring Colts/Packers in 87% of markets, had a 12.8 overnight rating on CBS Sunday afternoon — down 20% from Broncos/Colts last year (16.1) and down 31% from coverage featuring Broncos/Patriots in 2014 (18.6).
Excluding Week 17, when both FOX and CBS air doubleheaders, the 12.8 is the lowest overnight for the NFL national window since Week 3 of the 2009 season — when coverage featuring Steelers/Bengals had a 12.6 on CBS.
As goes without saying, the 12.8 is also the lowest of the season for the national window. The five national windows on CBS have been the five lowest rated in the metered markets, with each falling below a 14.0 overnight. By comparison, the four comparable editions of “America’s Game of the Week” on FOX each had at least a 14.7.
Sunday’s telecast was also the seventh of nine NFL national windows this season to post a decline in the overnights, and the sixth to hit a multi-year low.
Earlier in the day, regional action had a 7.8 overnight — down 17% from last year (9.4) and even with 2014.
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily 11/7)
