We have the overnight numbers from yesterday’s NFL Divisional Playoff action and while both CBS and Fox are crowing, one has to think the Tiffany Network has to be a bit disappointed in having a blowout and not surpassing Fox’s ratings.
While the primetime game between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots finished as the highest Saturday night NFL Divisional Playoff game since the window was created in 2002, CBS finished below Fox’s game between New Orleans and San Francisco which was an absolute thriller.
CBS saw a 20.6 rating with a 34 share. That’s up last year’s Saturday night primetime game on Fox between Green Bay and Atlanta which saw an 18.1 overnight number.
We do have the CBS Sports press release which was somehow sent to the Salt Lake Tribune’s Scott D. Pierce, but not sent to the Fang’s Bites inbox.
“THE NFL ON CBS'” COVERAGE OF PATRIOTS WIN OVER BRONCOS SATURDAY RATES AS HIGHEST PRIMETIME NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME IN 11 YEARS
Saturday’s AFC Divisional Playoff Game Earns Rating/Share of 20.6/34
THE NFL ON CBS’s broadcast of the AFC Divisional Playoff game featuring the New England Patriots‘ 45-10 win over the Denver Broncos on Saturday, Jan. 14 (8:15-11:30 PM, ET) scored an average overnight household rating/share of 20.6/34.
Yesterday’s 20.6/34 for the Patriots-Broncos game was the highest rating for an NFL Divisional playoff game in prime time on any network in the metered markets in 11 years. Last night’s 20.6/35 was the second-highest AFC Divisional playoff game in 18 years (23.9/51; Los Angeles Raiders-Buffalo; NBC; 12:30-3:45 PM, ET; 1/15/94).
The rating/share for the Patriots-Broncos game peaked with a 24.1/39 (9:00-9:30 PM, ET).
As mentioned, Fox received a higher rating for the 4:30 p.m. Saturday window, a 21.7 which is up 4% from the comparable game last year on CBS which was between Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Michael Hiestand of USA Today has a look at yesterday’s ratings.
Paulsen at the Sports Media Watch also delves into Saturday’s playoff ratings and gives us the proper perspective.
Chad Finn of the Boston Globe has his take on the ratings. The local numbers are not yet available.
We’re looking to get more information on the overnight ratings and once I receive them, I’ll be sure to pass them along.
