The Buffalo Bills’ 26-15 win over the Dallas Cowboys delivered CBS Sports’ best television ratings for a National Football League (NFL) Thanksgiving Day game in 27 years.
The US broadcaster’s coverage of the matchup averaged 32.53 million viewers, making it the most-watched regular season game on any network in three years and the most watched television programme since February’s Super Bowl. Viewership peaked at the backend of the game, clocking an audience of 35.45 million.
The average audience figure marks a 22 per cent improvement from last year’s Thanksgiving game on CBS between the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, who drew an average viewership of 26.61 million. Viewership was also up seven per cent on last season’s comparable game window, when 30.52 million tuned in for a game between the Cowboys and the Washington Redskins on Fox.
This year, Fox’s Thanksgiving game between the Bears and the Lions averaged 27.28 million across all its platforms, while NBC’s primetime game between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons averaged 21.1 million viewers.
The positive Thanksgiving figures continue the NFL’s momentum on the ratings front this season. In October it was revealed that the league’s viewership was up around five per cent compared to the same time last year, while November’s game between the Cowboys and the New England Patriots delivered Fox’s best metered market rating for a regular season broadcast since 1996.
The Buffalo Bills’ 26-15 win over the Dallas Cowboys delivered CBS Sports’ best television ratings for a National Football League (NFL) Thanksgiving Day game in 27 years.
The US broadcaster’s coverage of the matchup averaged 32.53 million viewers, making it the most-watched regular season game on any network in three years and the most watched television programme since February’s Super Bowl. Viewership peaked at the backend of the game, clocking an audience of 35.453 million.
The average audience figure marks a 22 per cent improvement from last year’s Thanksgiving game on CBS between the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, who drew an average viewership of 26.61 million. Viewership was also up seven per cent on last season’s comparable game window, when 30.52 million tuned in for a game between the Cowboys and the Washington Redskins on Fox.
This year, Fox’s Thanksgiving game between the Bears and the Lions averaged 27.283 million across all its platforms, while NBC’s primetime game between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons averaged 21.1 million viewers.
The positive Thanksgiving figures continue the NFL’s momentum on the ratings front this season. In October it was revealed that the league’s viewership was up around five per cent compared to the same time last year, while November’s game between the Cowboys and the New England Patriots delivered Fox’s best metered market rating for a regular season broadcast since 1996.
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