Overnight ratings were down for the NFL in Week 14. Fox led all nets with a 17.4 overnight for its national window featuring Seahawks-Eagles, but that figure was down 4% from an 18.1 for a window featuring Seahawks-49ers last year. Fox also drew a 9.6 overnight for its regional coverage on Sunday, down 19% from an 11.8 in Week 14 last year. Meanwhile, NBC drew a 13.9 overnight for the Patriots’ win over the Chargers on “SNF” last night, up 9% from a 12.7 for Panthers-Saints last year. The game delivered NBC a primetime win. Patriots-Chargers drew a 41.2 local rating in Boston, which is the second-best figure on record in the market for a Patriots "SNF" telecast. The game also drew a 36.5 local rating in San Diego. CBS yesterday drew an 11.2 overnight for its singleheader coverage, down 16% from a 13.3 last year (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
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NFL WEEK 14 SUNDAY OVERNIGHT RATINGS
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NET
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'14 GAME
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RAT.
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'13 GAME
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RAT.
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% +/-
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CBS
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(single)
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11.2
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(single)
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13.3
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-15.8%
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Fox
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(regional)
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9.6
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(regional)
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11.8
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-18.6%
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Fox
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Seahawks-Eagles (91%)
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17.4
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Seahawks-49ers (78%)
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18.1
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-3.9%
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NBC
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Patriots-Chargers
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13.9
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Panthers-Saints
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12.7
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9.4%
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CALLING AN AUDIBLE: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes he "didn’t expect [the NFL's] TV partners to use pregame shows to have their analysts comment on the protest by Rams players over the grand jury not indicting the Ferguson cop who killed Michael Brown." Or more "potential player protests over the Staten Island grand jury decision not to indict the policeman who choked the life out of Eric Garner." That is why ESPN’s “Sunday Countdown” and FS1’s “NFL Kickoff” "deserve big-time credit for dealing with the issue." On "Countdown," ESPN's Tom Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson and Mike Ditka "discussed the matter." Ditka said that he would have encouraged players to have a "more organized 'function' to protest." FS1's Randy Moss said that he "hoped players were not in a one-and-done mode." He asked if they are going to “reach out to the (Ferguson) community and really give some help?” (
N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/8).
SINGLE COVERAGE: In Baltimore, David Zurawik writes, "One of the happier and more unexpected stories of the Ravens’ season has been the improvement in the CBS telecasts of the games." The net's team of Andrew Catalon, Steve Tasker, Steve Beuerlein and Chris Fischer "did good work" in yesterday's 28-13 win against the Dolphins. CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus is "treating viewers here probably better than we deserve given the economics of the business." Zurawik: "We got a crew with three decent professionals in the booth, plus a sideline reporter" (Baltimore SUN, 12/8).
DROPPING THE BOMB: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick wrote "there was no question" as to the word Patriots QB Tom Brady was hollering on the sidelines during last week's Patriots-Packers game. But the question became "why CBS was overjoyed by it, why CBS behaved as if it had beaten TMZ to an exclusive." CBS’ lead NFL crew "chose to show Brady, the first time possibly live, three times hollering 'F—!' followed by showing that three-timer again, from a different angle, on tape." Brady should not have been "so intentionally subjected to such avoidable attention." Mushnick: "Yep, three shots of 'F—!' wasn’t enough. CBS gave us six" (N.Y. POST, 12/7).
OPTION PLAY: In Denver, Dusty Saunders reports before Super Bowl XLIX is played Feb. 1, the NFL will likely make an announcement "regarding coverage of Thursday night games next season." Saunders: "Why the delay? Possibly because Fox, which is looking to expand its TV sports universe, might be planning a major bid to pre-empt CBS." The second-year option "belongs to the NFL, not to CBS" (DENVER POST, 12/8). In Dallas, Barry Horn noted the idea behind "TNF" was to "gain over-the-air eyeballs and promotion for a package that had belonged exclusively" to cable’s NFL Network. CBS' "TNF" package has been a "roaring success." Last week's Cowboys-Bears "likely will be the highest rated of NFLN’s Thursday night games this season." Horn asked, "When the NFL sells Thursday night rights for next year and beyond you think it will include its television darling Cowboys to ensure more money for the package?" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 12/6).
