CBS Says Broncos-Steelers Game Set Viewership Records
NEW YORK (CBS) - THE NFL ON CBS's broadcast of the AFC Wild Card game featuring the Tim Tebow-led Denver Broncos' 29-23 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Jan. 8 (4:45-8:15PM ET) averaged a 25.9/43 HH rating/share in the 56 NSI metered markets, setting several records:
* It was the highest rated AFC Sunday Wild Card game in the metered markets since a 26.7 HH rating for Seattle @ Houston on Sunday, 1/3/88 on NBC (4-7:30PM ET).
* It was the highest rated Wild Card game (AFC or NFC) in the NSI metered markets on any network since 1988 (26.7; Seattle-Houston; Sunday, 1/3/88; 4-730PM ET, NBC).
The Pittsburgh-Denver game was +38% in HH rating compared to last year's 18.8/37 for Baltimore at Kansas City on CBS (1-4PM ET).
The game peaked with a HH rating/share of 31.6/46 (8:00-8:15 PM ET).
4:45-5PM ET 20.4/38
5-5:30PM ET 22.5/41
5:30-6PM ET 24.7/43
6-6:30PM ET 24.6/42
6:30-7PM ET 25.3/41
7-7:30PM ET 27.5/44
7:30-8PM ET 29.8/46
8-8:15PM ET 31.6/46
The five top-rated stations/metered markets were:
1) KDKA Pittsburgh 56.2/77
2) KCNC Denver 49.0/78
3) WJZ Baltimore 35.7/52
4) WTKR Norfolk 35.4/48
5) WUSA Washington DC 33.2/53
Source: NSI Live + SD ratings
(Article reprinted with permission from CBS Research and CBS Sports Communications.)