CBS had its best Sunday of the season thanks to the NFC.
The Week 11 NFL national window, featuring Eagles/Seahawks in 78% of markets, had a 15.4 overnight rating on CBS — down 9% from coverage featuring Packers/Vikings last year (17.0) and down 10% from coverage featuring Eagles/Packers in 2014 (17.1), both of which aired on FOX.
The 15.4 overnight is easily the highest of the season for the NFL on CBS, blowing past the previous mark of 13.9 for coverage featuring Steelers/Eagles in Week 3. Regardless of network, it ranks fifth for the season behind three national windows on FOX and the Panthers/Broncos Kickoff Game on NBC (16.5).
Though a strong performance for CBS, it was the lowest rated Week 11 national window in the metered markets since 2012, when coverage featuring Colts/Patriots had a 14.8 on CBS. Overnights for the national window have now declined in 9 of 11 weeks this season, hitting multi-year lows in seven.
Earlier in the day, regional action featuring Ravens/Cowboys in 72% of markets had an 11.9 overnight — up 20% from coverage featuring Washington/Carolina last year (9.9) and up 18% from coverage featuring Seahawks/Chiefs in ’14 (10.1), which both aired on FOX.
The 11.9 is easily the highest for the early doubleheader window this season. Moreover, the 20% increase is the second-biggest jump for any NFL window this season. Thursday’s Saints/Panthers game on NBC and NFL Network increased 102%, primarily because the previous year’s game aired on NFL Network alone.
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily 11/21; regional splits from Barry Horn/Twitter 11/20)
