CBS scored the highest NFL overnight rating of Thanksgiving Day. In other news, LeBron James’ return to Cleveland delivered for ESPN, and the Maui Invitational final hit an eight-year high.
Bears-Lions Scores Top Thanksgiving Overnight
Thursday’s Bears-Lions NFL Thanksgiving game earned a 14.2 overnight rating on CBS, up 11% from last year on FOX (Vikings-Lions: 12.8) but down 1% from 2016 on CBS (Vikings-Lions: 14.4). The 14.2 was the highest of the day, topping Washington-Dallas on FOX (14.1) and Falcons-Saints on NBC (11.4).
The Bears’ win, which peaked at a 16.1 from 3:30-3:45 PM ET, earned the second-highest NFL overnight on CBS this season. The network scored a 14.4 for Dallas-Washington in Week 7.
Fast-national figures for the day’s other games have already been reported. Washington-Dallas had a 12.5 rating and 30.5 million viewers, while Falcons-Saints drew a 10.1 and 21.7 million.
LeBron’s Cleveland Return Strong on ESPN
Wednesday’s Lakers-Cavaliers NBA regular season game, which marked Lakers F LeBron James‘ first game in Cleveland since leaving the Cavaliers, had a 2.6 overnight rating on ESPN — up 18% from last year (Warriors-Thunder: 2.2) and up 189% from 2016 (Spurs-Hornets: 0.9).
When James returned to Cleveland as a member of the Miami Heat in 2010, the game had a 5.0 overnight on TNT.
The 2.6 is tied as the highest of the season, matching James’ Laker debut against Portland last month. James’ Lakers have played in the top three games thus far, with his home opener against Houston ranking third (2.5).
Later in the night, Thunder-Warriors drew a 2.0 (+25%). ESPN’s full doubleheader averaged a 2.3, the network’s best in the regular season since 2014.
Gonzaga-Duke Top Maui Final in Eight Years
The Gonzaga-Duke Maui Invitational Championship earned a 1.7 overnight rating on ESPN Wednesday afternoon, the highest for the title game since 2010. Overnights for last year’s final were not available.
Tuesday’s Duke-Auburn semifinal had 2.17 million viewers, up 422% from last year’s first semifinal, which aired in the early afternoon (Marquette-Wichita State: 415K). It ranks as the second-most watched college basketball game this season, pending final results for Wednesday’s final. The top spot belongs to Duke-Kentucky in the Champions Classic (2.85M).
Aided by the strong lead-in, Gonzaga-Arizona had 1.26 million (+153%).
[Numbers from CBS Sports PR, ESPN PR 11.22]
