or


[01/18/11 - 07:36 AM]
"The NFL on CBS" Broadcast of N.Y. Jets' Upset Win Over Patriots Sunday Is Most-Watched Divisional Playoff Game Averaging 43.5 Million Viewers
CBS spins the numbers for Saturday, January 15 through Sunday, January 16.
[via press release from CBS]

"THE NFL ON CBS" BROADCAST OF N.Y. JETS' UPSET WIN OVER PATRIOTS SUNDAY IS MOST-WATCHED DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME AVERAGING 43.5 MILLION VIEWERS

Sunday's AFC Divisional Playoff Game Earns Fast National Rating/Share of 24.2/42, Up 20%

THE NFL ON CBS's broadcast of the AFC Divisional Playoff game featuring the New York Jets' 28-21 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday, Jan. 16 averaged 43.5 million viewers, which is projected to be the highest viewer average and most-watched Divisional Playoff game on any network (dating as far back as CBS records exist, 1987-88). (Final ratings will be available on Friday, January 21.)

On Saturday, Jan. 15 THE NFL ON CBS's broadcast of the AFC Divisional Playoff game featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers' 31-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens averaged 34.0 million viewers and was the highest viewer average for the Saturday AFC or NFC Divisional playoff game on any network since 1988 (34.0M; Minnesota-San Francisco; CBS) on January 9, 1988.

THE NFL ON CBS averaged 38.5 million viewers for its two AFC Divisional Playoff games making it the highest viewer average ever for any network's two AFC or NFC games during a Divisional Playoff weekend.

Sunday's 43.5 million viewers was an increase of 22% over last year's 35.6 million for the N.Y. Jets-San Diego game.

Saturday's 34.0 million viewers was an increase of 11% over last year's 30.6 million for the Baltimore-Indianapolis game.

* * * * *

The Jets-Patriots game on Sunday earned an average fast national live+same-day household rating/share of 24.2/42, up 20% from a 20.1/35 for last year's AFC Divisional Playoff game between the New York Jets and San Diego. The 24.2/42 was the highest-rated AFC or NFC Sunday Divisional playoff game on any network in 14 years (27.6/49; Dallas-Carolina; FOX) on January 5, 1997.

The rating/share for the game peaked with a 28.4/44 with an average of 52.3 million viewers (7:30-7:48 PM, ET).

The Ravens-Steelers game on Saturday earned an average fast national live+same-day household rating/share of 19.4/38, up +14% from a 17.0/29 for last year's AFC Divisional Playoff game between Baltimore and Indianapolis. The 19.4/38 was the highest-rated AFC or NFC Saturday Divisional playoff game on any network in 15 years (22.2/42; Green Bay-San Francsisco; FOX) on January 6, 1996.

The rating/share for the Ravens-Steelers game peaked with a 23.5/42 with an average of 42.9 million viewers (7:30-8:00 PM, ET).





  [january 2011]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)




most recent ratings | view all posts
[10/23/26 - 03:54 PM]
ESPN's NBA Opening Wednesday Delivered Its Second-Largest Audience Ever
The Minnesota Timberwolves' victory over the Miami Heat averaged 2.52 million viewers, up 16% from last year's comparable game.
[10/23/26 - 03:25 PM]
USA Sports Delivers Most-Watched WNBA Finals Game 3 Since 1999, Best Ever on Cable
1.71 million viewers on average tuned into Wednesday night's Game 3 coverage across USA Sports' linear platforms (USA Network and CNBC) and streaming on Peacock.
[10/23/26 - 08:30 AM]
Record College Football Viewership Propels ESPN to Second Best Start Since 2011 with "College GameDay" on Track for Most-Watched Season Ever
ESPN networks are averaging 2.2 million viewers across 120 games on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU - the second-best start for ESPN since 2011.

[10/22/26 - 04:01 PM]
ABC News Wins Across Friday Night, Sunday Morning and Late-Night
"20/20: The Suitcase Murders" ranked as Friday's No. 1 newsmagazine in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49.
[10/22/26 - 04:00 PM]
CBS Dominates Its Premiere Week in Seven-Day Multiplatform Viewership, Up +14% from Last Year, with Six Series Topping 10 Million Viewers
Among its broadcast competition, CBS claimed eight of the top 10 series.
[10/22/26 - 02:50 PM]
NBC Sports Delivers Most-Watched NBA Tip-Off Primetime Game Ever with 76ers-Knicks
Viewership peaked at 9.1 million - an NBA Tip-Off record - from 9:45-10:00 pm ET as the 76ers clinched the victory.
[10/22/26 - 02:00 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Waltzes to Season High During Heartfelt "Dedication Night" with 7.36 Million Total Viewers
The October 20 episode hit a season high with the show's best non-finale episode in six years.
[10/21/26 - 04:01 PM]
USA Sports' Coverage of Dream-Valkyries Game 2 Is Most-Watched WNBA Finals Game 2 Ever on Cable
Monday night's coverage averaged 1.33 million viewers across USA Sports' linear platforms (USA Network, CNBC and E!).
[10/21/26 - 03:15 PM]
It's Back to School at "Abbott Elementary" as Show Returns with Over 6 Million Total Viewers
The premiere episode scored the show's best streaming performance since Season 4, based on views over seven days on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
[10/21/26 - 02:31 PM]
Commanders-49ers on "Monday Night Football" Delivers 17.9 Million Viewers
Six weeks into ESPN's Super Bowl LXI season, "Monday Night Football" is up 23% compared to the same point in 2025, averaging 19 million viewers.
[10/21/26 - 11:01 AM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of October 12
"Carrie," "Neagley," "Reacher," "Off Campus," and "Sterling Point" led all original series worldwide.
[10/21/26 - 06:39 AM]
NFL Network's London Slate Culminates with 6.4M Viewers for Jaguars-Texans
Season to date, through three games in London, NFL Network is averaging 6.9M viewers, up 15% vs. the network's six-game International Series average last season.
[10/21/26 - 06:30 AM]
NBC and Peacock Deliver Most-Watched WNBA Finals Game 1 Ever
Led by Gabby Williams' 26 points, Golden State's 68-64 win over Atlanta peaked at 3.0 million viewers for the game's exciting conclusion from 5:45 - 5:55 p.m. ET.

[10/20/26 - 03:19 PM]
"College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" Delivers Its Third Most-Watched Regular-Season Episode Ever from BYU
ESPN networks had 3 of the top 4 games this week, the second most-watched regular season Saturday on record (based on minutes).
[10/20/26 - 03:08 PM]
Ohio State's Win Over Indiana Scores Most-Watched College Football Game of the Week
Viewership peaked at 14,269,000 viewers from 3:30-3:45 PM ET on FOX.