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This past weekend of NFL action was highlighted by record-setting viewership for coverage on CBS.
As sports broadcasters keep benefiting from Nielsen’s new ratings methodology, CBS had its most-watched Week 5 singleheader window since it returned as an NFL TV partner in 1998. Sunday’s five games, led by the Broncos’ 21–17 win over the Eagles in the 1 p.m. ET window, averaged 19.57 million viewers, which is up 17% over last season’s comparable Week 5 singleheader window on Fox.
It also marked the most-watched NFL singleheader window for CBS in any week since 2013. Of note: The Buccaneers’ thrilling 38–35 win over the Seahawks in the 4:05 p.m. ET window was available to watch in only select markets throughout the country, mostly in Florida and the Pacific Northwest.
NBC averaged 21.9 million viewers for Sunday Night Football, as the Patriots upset the Bills 23–20 in Buffalo. NBC has drawn at least 20 million viewers for its first six SNF games of the season.
In the late afternoon window Sunday, Fox averaged 20.33 million viewers for its NFL coverage, led by the Commanders’ 27–10 win over the Chargers in most of the country, but also the Lions’ 37–24 victory over the Bengals in some parts.
CFB Stays Hot, Too
In college football (also seeing a major uptick in ratings this year), the three most-watched games of the weekend were spread evenly across SEC, ACC, and Big Ten action:
- Vanderbilt-Alabama: 6.4 million viewers on ABC
- Miami–Florida State: 6 million viewers on ABC
- Wisconsin-Michigan: 4.6 million viewers on Fox
ABC is still off to its hottest college football ratings start on record, averaging 6.9 million viewers per game through six weeks of the season.
Meanwhile, Nebraska’s 38–27 win over Michigan State drew FS1’s most-watched college football game since 2022, averaging 1.5 million viewers Saturday afternoon.
More Eyes on Pregame Shows
ESPN’s College GameDay once again drew its second-most-watched telecast on record—a mark already set multiple times this fall—as the traveling pregame show continues its momentum following its all-time high of 4 million viewers for its season opener that doubled as Lee Corso’s farewell episode.
Saturday’s show averaged 2.8 million viewers from Tuscaloosa. This season has already delivered College GameDay’s five most-watched telecasts ever.
