For the first time this season, overnight ratings hit a multi-year low for the NFL national window.
Sunday’s Week 8 NFL national window, featuring Browns-Patriots in 71% of markets, averaged a 14.0 overnight rating on CBS — down 7% from last year (mostly Packers-Rams: 15.0) and down 8% from 2018 (Dallas-Washington: 15.3), both of which aired on FOX.
The telecast, which also included Raiders-Texans in 29% of markets, was just the second national window to decline this season (eight telecasts). It was the first to hit a multi-year low, its 14.0 overnight the lowest in Week 8 since 2016 (Colts-Packers: 12.8).
Despite the lower numbers, the 14.0 is the second-highest NFL overnight on CBS this season. The Week 3 national window (mostly Saints-Seahawks) holds the top spot (14.2).
Earlier in the day, regional action featuring Cardinals-Saints or Broncos-Colts in most markets averaged a 6.9 (-15%), the lowest for that window in Week 8 since 2003 (6.2). Keep in mind Nielsen overnights no longer include the New Orleans market.
Over on FOX, singleheader coverage featuring Eagles-Bills or Panthers-49ers averaged an 11.5 — the highest for that window in Week 8 since 2014 (ft. Eagles-Cardinals: 12.3). Overnights rose 12% from last year (10.3) and 26% from 2017 (9.1), both of which aired on CBS.
NBC no longer releases overnights for Sunday Night Football games.
[Nielsen estimates from CBS Sports, Fox Sports PR/Twitter 10.28]
