I’m still waiting on press releases from the NFL TV partners on the final ratings for Divisional Playoffs Weekend. Also, I’m looking for local ratings for the AFC games, Denver-New England and Houston-Baltimore in particular. Hopefully, that will come today.
In the meantime, we have this from CBS touting its average viewership for its three playoff games, the Wild Card game between Pittsburgh and Denver plus the two aforementioned Divisional playoffs. Now the viewership is inflated thanks to the record number for the Wild Card game, keep that in mind when you read this press release. In addition, Steelers-Broncos was in the Sunday late afternoon window which always has better ratings than any other NFL timeslot.
CBS says its average rating of 20.6 with a 36 share is the highest for the AFC Playoffs since a 21.1/41 three game average for NBC in the 1995-96 postseason. Quite impressive numbers
Here’s the release.
“THE NFL ON CBS” BROADCASTS OF AFC WILD CARD AND DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAMES AVERAGING HIGHEST OVERALL VIEWERSHIP IN 25 YEARS FOR AFC TV PACKAGE
“THE NFL ON CBS” Playoff Coverage Averaging Highest Rating in 16 Years
THE NFL ON CBS’s broadcasts of the AFC Wild Card and Divisional Playoff games on Sunday, Jan. 8 (Pittsburgh-Denver); Saturday, Jan. 14 (Denver-New England) and Sunday, Jan. 15 (Houston-Baltimore) are averaging 36.087 million viewers, the highest viewer overall average for the first three playoff games for the AFC television package in 25 years (CBS records go back to 1987-88).
This year’s 36.087 million is up 2% from last year’s 35.376 million, and up 15% from 31.296 million in 2009-10.
THE NFL ON CBS’s Wild Card and two Divisional Playoff games are averaging a national household rating/share of 20.6/36, the highest average for the first three playoff games in 16 years (21.1/41; 1995-96; NBC).
This year’s 20.6/36 is up 1% from last year’s 20.3/38, and up 14% from 18.1/33 in 2009-10.
When more releases come, I’ll be sure to post them. Right now, I’m a bit busy handling non-sports media issues. Basically life is getting in the way, but it happens. I’m monitoring the usual channels for any breaking news and if anything happens, I’ll be here to bring you the news.
