CBS posted declines for both games of its Week 13 NFL doubleheader.
Last Sunday’s NFL national window (Raiders-Chiefs in 89% of markets) averaged a 12.2 rating and 21.90 million viewers on CBS, down 10% in ratings and 6% in viewership from last year (mostly Vikings-Patriots: 13.5, 23.20M), but up 2% and 8% respectively from 2017 (mostly Panthers-Saints: 12.0, 20.22M). Those windows aired on FOX.
The telecast was just the fourth national window this season to decline in ratings and the third to do so in viewership. Most of the country was switched to Chargers-Broncos when Kansas City’s rout got out of hand.
For just the second time this season, the national window was not the top NFL telecast of the day. It narrowly trailed NBC’s Sunday Night Football (Patriots-Texans: 12.3, 21.45M). NBC previously came out ahead in Week 4.
CBS was originally slated to carry Browns-Steelers in the national window — a rematch of the rivals’ brawl-marred Thursday nighter in Week 11 — but that game was flexed out in favor of Raiders-Chiefs.
Browns-Steelers instead went to 71% of markets as the lead game of the early doubleheader window. That telecast averaged a 7.0 and 11.88 million, down 20% in ratings and 16% in viewership from last year (mostly Bears-Giants: 8.7, 14.22M) but up 3% and 6% respectively from 2017 (mostly Vikings-Falcons: 6.8, 11.17M).
Keep in mind the early window had unusually strong competition from the singleheader on FOX (mostly 49ers-Ravens).
The early window averaged a 3.0 rating in adults 18-49 (-17%) and the late window a 5.8 (-5%).
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 12.4]
