Jan. 25, 2024
CBS' success contributes to a stellar weekend for the NFL, averaging over 40 million viewers across four divisional round games. By: Wee Yan Ling
CBS
has secured an unprecedented audience for an NFL divisional playoff game as
more than 50 million viewers tuned in to witness the Kansas City Chiefs triumph
over the Buffalo Bills. The astounding figure of 50.39 million viewers not only
break the record for the network but also exceeded the previous divisional
round high achieved back in 2017. It is to note that the impressive milestone
occurred without Nielsen measuring out-of-home viewing before 2020.
CBS’s
telecast displayed an impeccable 10% surge over last year’s Sunday primetime
game, highlighting the enduring appeal of NFL matchups. The Chiefs vs. Bills
game also emerged as the largest TV audience since the Super Bowl held last
year. It is expected that this record may be surpassed in the upcoming NFL
conference championship games.
The
broader NFL playoff weekend was a triumph as it had spanned more than 40
million viewers across the four divisional round games, inclusive of the
streaming figures. ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2's coverage of the Baltimore Ravens’
victory has amassed more than 32 million viewers whereas Fox’s afternoon game
on NBC and Peacock which premiered the Detroit Lions’ wins over than Tampa Bay
Buccaneers has garnered 40.4 million viewers, contributing to a four-game
average that is 10% higher than the previous year and the highest since at
least 2015.
The impressive figures follow a regular season that witnessed a growth of 7% in TV audience as opposed to the 2022 season and a wild card round that exhibited an 8% year-to-year increase.
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