This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Lots of people like Tim Tebow. Lots of people don't like Tim Tebow.
TV execs were thrilled to have Tebow and the Denver Broncos in the NFL playoffs the past couple of weeks because his presence has boosted the ratings.
The Tebow-haters are happy now. He's done.
Network TV execs, not so much.
Here's CBS' release about the ratings for Saturday's New England-Denver game:
"THE NFL ON CBS's" COVERAGE OF PATRIOTS WIN OVER BRONCOS SATURDAY RATES AS HIGHEST PRIMETIME NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME IN 11 YEARS
Saturday's AFC Divisional Playoff Game Earns Rating/Share of 20.6/34
THE NFL ON CBS's broadcast of the AFC Divisional Playoff game featuring the New England Patriots' 45-10 win over the Denver Broncos on Saturday, Jan. 14 (8:15-11:30 PM, ET) scored an average overnight household rating/share of 20.6/34.
Yesterday's 20.6/34 for the Patriots-Broncos game was the highest rating for an NFL Divisional playoff game in prime time on any network in the metered markets in 11 years. Last night's 20.6/35 was the second-highest AFC Divisional playoff game in 18 years (23.9/51; Los Angeles Raiders-Buffalo; NBC; 12:30-3:45 PM, ET; 1/15/94).
The rating/share for the Patriots-Broncos game peaked with a 24.1/39 (9:00-9:30 PM, ET).