Ratings Review: CBS Sundays - First 4 Weeks

CBS Sunday nights is always a hot topic each week, especially when the network has the national NFL doubleheader and the primetime shows have delayed start times. Does the NFL help or hurt CBS on Sundays?

There is no disputing the immediate effect an NFL overrun game has on the CBS schedule. 60 MINUTES can rise as much as 70% in the ratings with a lead in of 25 million viewers and double digits in the A18-49 ratings. But, that increase in viewers does not translate into new viewers. Those off weeks fall right back to their usual levels. It helps the average, but does not help growth.

For the remaining three hours of primetime, the NFL affect begins to diminish. THE AMAZING RACE can see a small boost in numbers, along with THE GOOD WIFE, which follows. Sometime, the increase is not always dramatic. Just a few thousand more viewers and a tenth of a ratings point in the demo. But like 60 MINUTES, the numbers fall back to regular levels on those non-NFL weeks.

THE MENTALIST is the one Sunday program that gets hurt by the NFL overrun as its start times are 10:30 p.m., or later. It numbers actually get worse on those NFL weeks. I mean, who wants to stay up until midnight to watch a drama series, when they can just set the DVR and watch it Monday, or later that following week? The LIVE+7 number are sowing just that. The first three weeks of the L+7 ratings show an increase of 3+ million viewers and up to a 70% increase in the A18-49 ratings, as it got for week #3. People watch and enjoy THE MENTALIST, just not late on Sunday nights.

Live+SD Ratings

Series	Category	09/29	10/06^	10/13	10/20^	AVG
60 Minutes	Viewers*	10.67	17.94	10.62	14.95	13.55
	A18-49	1.4	3.8	1.5	2.8	2.4
Amazing Race	Viewers*	8.62	9.74	8.08	8.87	8.83
	A18-49	2.0	2.4	1.9	1.9	2.1
The Good Wife	Viewers*	9.15	9.23	9.38	8.99	9.19
	A18-49	1.5	1.6	1.3	1.4	1.5
The Mentalist	Viewers*	9.70	8.55	9.38	7.75	8.85
	A18-49	1.6	1.5	1.3	1.2	1.4

* - in millions