AFC Championship is the Highest Rated Game in the Early Afternoon Window in 18 Years

CBS sends us this press release regarding the overnight ratings for the AFC Championship Game. The Tiffany Network says the Baltimore Ravens-New England Patriots contest scored an amazing 29.1 overnight with a 51 share, the highest for the early afternoon window for the AFC Championship since 1994 between Kansas City and Buffalo on NBC.

The numbers are down 11% from last year’s New York Jets-Pittsburgh Steelers game which garnered a 31.3/46, but was played in the 6:30 p.m. ET window. The last comparable game for the AFC Championship received a 28.4/50 for the Jets at Indianapolis Colts game in 2010.

We have the full press release from CBS Sports.

“THE NFL ON CBS” SCORES WITH HIGHEST RATING FOR AFTERNOON AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN 18 YEARS

CBS Sports’ coverage of the 2012 AFC Championship Game featuring the New England Patriots defeating the Baltimore Ravens, 23-20, on Sunday, Jan. 22 (3:00-6:15 PM, ET), earned an average overnight household rating/share of 29.1/51. This was the highest rating in the metered markets for an afternoon AFC Championship in 18 years (1/23/1994; 29.5/57; Kansas City-Buffalo; NBC).

The Network’s coverage in the comparable window in 2010 earned a 28.4/50 (New York Jets-Indianapolis) and last year earned a 31.3/46 (New York Jets-Pittsburgh) in the late window, which was the highest-rated AFC Championship game in 24 years in the metered markets.

This year’s AFC Championship Game rating peaked at a 34.9/56 from 6:00-6:15 PM, ET.

When the Fox press release arrives in the inbox, I’ll post it immediately.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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