A thriller between two of the NFL’s biggest names, with much of the country snowed in, resulted in huge numbers for the AFC Championship game.
The Patriots/Broncos matchup had a 31.8 overnight rating on CBS Sunday afternoon, up 9% from Packers/Seahawks on FOX last year (29.1) and up 8% from the same Patriots/Broncos matchup in 2014 (29.5). Compared to last year’s Colts/Patriots AFC Championship, which aired in the late window, overnights jumped 31% from a 24.2.
The Broncos’ win, which peaked at a 36.6 from 6-6:30 PM ET, ranks as the highest rated AFC Championship in the metered markets since 1987 — when NBC drew a 31.9 for Broncos/Browns (31.9). Including NFC games, it ranks as the third-highest rated conference championship game since Cowboys/49ers in 1995 (34.2), behind only Giants/49ers in 2012 (33.4) and Vikings/Saints in 2010 (33.3).
The 31.8 is also the highest overnight for the early conference championship window since the aforementioned Broncos/Browns game.
The AFC Championship comfortably topped its NFC counterpart, ranking ahead of Cardinals/Panthers on FOX by 19% (26.8). This year was the second straight, and just the third time in the past ten seasons, that the early conference championship has topped the late window.
Credit to Sports Media Watch who originally published this article
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
