To the surprise of not a soul on Earth, a high-scoring affair between the Broncos and Cowboys scored big numbers for CBS.
The Week 5 Broncos/Cowboys NFL national window earned a 16.6 final rating and 28.3 million viewers on CBS, up 14% in ratings and 16% in viewership from coverage featuring Broncos/Patriots last year (14.5, 24.5M), and up 22% and 25%, respectively, from coverage featuring Jets/Patriots in 2011 (13.6, 22.6M).
The game ranks as the second-most viewed NFL telecast of the season, trailing only the Week 1 national window (mostly Packers/49ers) on FOX (28.5M). The 16.6 rating tied a season-high, matching the Week 1 window.
The five NFL national windows on FOX and CBS rank as the five-most viewed telecasts of the season on any network.
In the early game of the CBS doubleheader, regional action earned a 7.0 final rating and 11.2 million viewers — down 8% in ratings and 7% in viewership from last year (7.6, 12.0M), and down 1% and flat, respectively, compared to 2011 (7.1 11.2M).
(Week 5 ratings/viewership from Sports Business Daily)
