The returns of Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson helped CBS to a double-digit gain in Week 10, albeit with a notable caveat.
Last Sunday’s NFL national window, featuring Seahawks-Packers in 92% of markets, averaged an 11.95 rating and 22.71 million viewers on CBS — up 12% in ratings and 13% in viewership from last year (mostly Seahawks-Rams or Bengals-Steelers: 10.7, 20.09M), but down 10% and 2% respectively from 2019 (mostly Panthers-Packers: 13.3, 23.20M). Those windows aired on FOX.
Keep in mind that Week 10 last year was one of the strangest in recent memory. Because of the rescheduled Masters, the national window on FOX faced unusual competition from a CBS singleheader that consisted solely of 4 PM ET games.
Last year’s odd circumstances affect comparisons for all three of the Sunday afternoon windows. The early doubleheader window on CBS (mostly Browns-Patriots) declined 31% in ratings (to 7.0) and 32% in viewership (to 12.36M), but last year’s comparable window on FOX faced no competing singleheader games.
Meanwhile, Sunday’s FOX singleheader (mostly Falcons-Cowboys) surged 56% in ratings (to 9.1) and 70% in viewership (to 17.58M), but as mentioned previously, last year’s comparable singleheader consisted solely of 4 PM ET games.
Compared to 2019, both of the early afternoon windows increased. The CBS early window rose 11% in ratings and 17% in viewership, while the FOX singleheader rose 2% and 18% respectively.
CBS is now averaging 17.36 million viewers for NFL coverage this season, up 8% from last year and a six-year high.
Shifting to primetime, Chiefs-Raiders drew a 9.3 and 16.74 million on NBC’s Sunday Night Football — up 5% in ratings and 6% in viewership from last year (Patriots-Ravens: 8.9, 15.79M) but down 28% and 27% respectively from ’19 (Vikings-Cowboys: 12.9, 22.99M).
ESPN’s Monday Night Football (Rams-49ers) averaged 12.25 million viewers, up 7% from last year (Vikings-Bears: 11.45M) and down 23% from 2019 (Seahawks-49ers: 15.98M). That figure includes 1.55 million viewers for the Peyton and Eli Manning-fronted alternate presentation on ESPN2, the smallest audience since Week 1 for the “Manningcast.”
Finally, last week’s edition of Thursday Night Football (Ravens-Dolphins) drew a 7.4 rating and 12.92 million on FOX and NFL Network — up 4% in ratings and 6% in viewership from last year (Colts-Titans: 7.1, 12.16M) but down 10% and 4% respectively from ’19 (Chargers-Raiders: 8.2, 13.52M).
For the full list of 2021 NFL ratings, see this page.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 11.16, 11.17, network PR]
