CBS posted double-digit increases for both games of its Week 6 NFL doubleheader.
Sunday’s Week 6 NFL national window (Cowboys-Jets in 91% of markets) averaged a 12.2 rating and 21.42 million viewers on CBS, marking the largest Week 6 NFL audience in three years. FOX averaged 28.01 million for coverage featuring Cowboys-Packers in 2016.
Ratings increased 20% and viewership 21% from last year (mostly Jaguars-Cowboys: 10.2, 17.64M) and 2% and 4% respectively from 2017 (mostly Steelers-Chiefs: 12.0, 20.59M).
The national window has now increased in five of six weeks this season, with Sunday’s gains the biggest thus far. Four of the six telecasts have hit multi-year highs.
Even with the increases, ratings and viewership were the second-lowest for the window this season. The Week 4 telecast (mostly Vikings-Bears) had an 11.3 and 19.80 million on CBS.
Earlier in the day, CBS drew a 7.7 and 13.00 million for coverage featuring Texans-Chiefs in 72% of markets — up 10% in ratings and 13% in viewership from last year (7.0, 11.46M) and up 17% and 19% respectively from 2017 (6.6, 10.94M).
The double-digit gains are a stark reversal from the overnights, which were down double-digits from last year.
The early window averaged a 3.7 rating in adults 18-49 (+12%) and the late window a 6.0 (+15%).
CBS is now averaging 16.96 million viewers for NFL games this season (+9%), its highest average at this point of the year since 2016.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 10.15, CBS Sports PR]
