NFL ratings increased on CBS last weekend, NFL Network capped off a decent season on a lower note, NBA viewership is up 17% entering the new year, and the CBS Sports Classic was less of a draw.
NFL Ratings: Season’s Final Singleheader Up on CBS
It was the most-watched singleheader of the season on CBS (eight telecasts), and the fifth-most watched overall. Of the 16 singleheader windows this season, it was just the third to post an increase in ratings or viewership.
NFL Network Ends Decent Season on Lower Note
For the season, seven exclusive NFL Network games averaged a 3.6 rating and 6.1 million viewers — down a tick in ratings and 10% in viewership from last year (3.7, 6.7M). Keep in mind NFL Network aired an additional game last season, a Christmas Ravens-Steelers game that had a network-record 6.5 and 14.8 million. Excluding that game, this season increased 9% and 10% respectively from a 3.3 and 5.5 million.
NBA Enters 2018 Up 17%
Entering the new year, NBA regular season games have averaged 2.2 million viewers across ESPN, ABC and TNT — up 17% from last year (1.8M) and up 4% from 2015 (2.1M). As previously noted, the five-game Christmas schedule averaged 5.1 million viewers, up 12%.
CBS Sports Classic Down Last Weekend
Earlier in the day, Ohio State-North Carolina had a 1.1 (-8%) and 1.7 million (-2%). Last year’s CBS Sports Classic aired later in the day.
