CBS NFL ratings soared in Week 4, continuing an early season rebound.
The Week 4 NFL national window, featuring Saints-Giants in 74% of markets, had a 12.1 rating and 20.7 million viewers on CBS — up a third in ratings and viewership from last year (Raiders-Broncos: 9.1, 15.6M) but down 8% and 9% respectively from 2016 on FOX (mostly Cowboys-49ers: 13.1, 22.7M).
The 33 percent increase is the biggest of the season for any NFL telecast window, though the bar was historically low. Not counting Week 17 or special holiday games, last year’s 9.1 rating was the lowest for the national window since at least 2000.
Outside of last year, it was the lowest rated Week 4 national window since 2005 (12.0) and the least-watched since 2007 (19.7M).
Notably, Sunday’s 12.1 final rating fell just two percent from the 12.3 overnight. The three previous national windows declined between 14 and 17 percent from the overnight.
CBS also scored a substantial increase for the first half of its doubleheader, which earned a 9.3 and 15.4 million — up 33% in ratings and 32% in viewership from last year (7.0, 11.7M) and up 39% and 37% respectively from 2016 on FOX (mostly Seahawks-Jets: 6.7, 11.2M).
The telecast, which included the Patriots’ rout of the Dolphins, was the highest rated early doubleheader window in Week 4 of the season since 2013 (9.4) and the most-watched since at least 2000.
CBS is now averaging a 9.5 rating and 16.3 million viewers for NFL coverage this season, up 8% in ratings and 7% in viewership from the same point last year (8.8, 15.2M).
The full list of Week 4 NFL ratings is available here.
[Numbers from CBS Sports PR]
