Editing NFL on CBS (section)

===2010s===
With an average U.S. audience of 106.5 million viewers, [[Super Bowl XLIV]] on CBS was, at the time, the most-watched Super Bowl telecast in the championship game's history as well as the most-watched program of any kind in American television history, beating the record previously set 27 years earlier by the final episode of ''M*A*S*H'', which was watched by 105.97 million viewers.<ref>{{cite news|title=Super Bowl ends MASH finale's 27-year reign as most-watched US TV show|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/feb/08/super-bowl-most-watched-show|author=James Deans|work=[[The Guardian]]|location=London|date=February 8, 2010|access-date=February 8, 2010}}</ref> The game telecast drew an overnight national [[Nielsen rating]] of 46.4 with a 68 share, the highest for a Super Bowl since [[Super Bowl XX]] in 1986; and drew a 56.3 rating in [[2009 New Orleans Saints season|New Orleans]] and a 54.2 rating in [[2009 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis]], first and fourth respectively among local markets.<ref name=NielsenBlog>{{cite web|title=Super Bowl XLIV most watched Super Bowl of all time|url=http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/media_entertainment/super-bowl-xliv-most-watched-super-bowl-of-all-time/|work=Nielsen Blogs|publisher=[[Nielsen Holdings]]|access-date=February 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210043124/http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/media_entertainment/super-bowl-xliv-most-watched-super-bowl-of-all-time/|archive-date=February 10, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Super Bowl XLV]] surpassed the record a year later and was itself topped by [[Super Bowl XLVI]] in 2012.<ref name="seidman1987">{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/02/07/super-bowl-xlv-poised-to-break-viewing-records-ties-1987-with-highest-overnight-ratings-ever/81684|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210203502/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/02/07/super-bowl-xlv-poised-to-break-viewing-records-ties-1987-with-highest-overnight-ratings-ever/81684|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 10, 2011|title=Super Bowl XLV Breaks Viewing Record, Averages 111 Million Viewers|first=Robert|last=Seidman|work=TV by the Numbers|publisher=[[Zap2It]]/[[Tribune Media]]|date=February 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Super Bowl Ratings Record: Giants-Patriots Game Is Highest-Rated TV Show In US History|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/06/super-bowl-ratings-record-tv-giants-patriots_n_1258107.html|author=David Bauder|work=Huffington Post|date=February 6, 2012|access-date=February 7, 2012}}</ref>

On November 28, [[2010 NFL season|2010]], CBS broadcast its 5,000th NFL game.<ref>{{cite web|title=CBS Sports Previews NFL Week 12|url=http://fangsbites.com/2010/11/cbs-sports-previews-nfl-week-12/|author=Ken Fang|work=Fangsbites.com|publisher=Wordpress|date=November 28, 2010|access-date=July 15, 2011|archive-date=October 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015192557/http://fangsbites.com/2010/11/cbs-sports-previews-nfl-week-12/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On December 14, 2011, the NFL, along with Fox, NBC and CBS, announced a nine-year extension of the league's rights deal with all three networks to the end of the 2022 season. The extended contract includes the continued rotation of the Super Bowl yearly among the three networks, meaning CBS would air Super Bowls [[Super Bowl XLVII|XLVII]] (2013), [[Super Bowl 50|50]] (2016), [[Super Bowl LIII|LIII]] (2019), and [[Super Bowl LV|LV]] (2021).<ref name="NFL CBS">{{cite web|title=CBS and NFL Reach New Nine-Year Broadcast Rights Agreement Through 2022 Season|url=http://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-sports/releases/view?id=30123|work=CBS Sports| date=December 14, 2011 |access-date=December 29, 2012}}</ref>

The late-afternoon regional games held on December 1, [[2013 NFL season|2013]] ([[2013 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]&ndash;[[2013 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] and [[2013 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]]&ndash;[[2013 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]]) drew a 16.7 household rating, a 29 share, and 28.106 million viewers from 4:25 to 7:47&nbsp;p.m. Eastern Time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Forums Archive – TV Media Insights – TV Ratings & News – Network TV Show Reviews and Daily Ratings|url=http://tvmediainsights.com/forum/?mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=4619.3#postid-60142|work=TV Media Insights|access-date=December 10, 2013|archive-date=December 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218113413/http://www.tvmediainsights.com/forum/?mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=4619.3#postid-60142|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On November 24, 2014, CBS presented a special Monday night game between the [[2014 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] and the [[2014 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] from [[Ford Field]] (which was moved from [[Ralph Wilson Stadium]] due to [[November 17–21, 2014 North American blizzard|a major lake effect snowstorm]] that affected Western New York).<ref>{{cite web|first1=Matt|last1=Higgins|first2=Ken|last2=Belson|title=Amid Snowstorm, Bills Shrug, Bundle Up and Make Their Way to Detroit|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/22/sports/football/proximity-and-fairness-nudged-jets-bills-game-to-detroit.html|website=The New York Times|date=November 21, 2014|access-date=November 10, 2017}}</ref>

In 2017, [[Beth Mowins]] became the first woman ever to call a football game for CBS, when she called the [[2017 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]]-[[2017 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] game with [[Jay Feely]] in Week 3.

On the first Sunday of the [[2019 NFL season|NFL's 100th season]], a power outage affecting a [[CBS Sports]] production truck stationed at [[TIAA Bank Field]] in [[Jacksonville, Florida]] for the [[2019 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]-[[2019 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jacksonville Jaguars]] regional broadcast forces the network to switch viewers, including those in Kansas City and Jacksonville, to other games. The initial explanation by ''NFL on CBS'' host [[James Brown (sportscaster)|James Brown]] was that the network was cutting away from the game for more competitive action (at the time of the outage the result was not in doubt, with the Chiefs leading 37-19 and eventually winning 40–26), but later revealed to be technical difficulties.<ref>[https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/09/08/power-outage-in-cbs-truck-knocked-kc-jacksonville-game-off-air/ "Power outage in CBS truck knocked KC-Jacksonville game off air"] from ''ProFootballTalk'' (September 8, 2019)</ref>

====CBS broadcasts via a secondary audio program and the internet====
For the [[2012 NFL season]], CBS began providing Spanish play-by-play commentary of all game broadcasts via a [[secondary audio program]] feed.<ref name="NFL CBS SAP">{{cite web|title="NFL on CBS" To Simulcast Every Game of 2012–2013 Season in Spanish via SAP|url=http://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-sports/releases/view?id=32855|work=CBS Sports| date=September 7, 2012 |access-date=December 29, 2012}}</ref> Also in 2012, to further prevent issues surrounding late games from delaying prime-time programming on the east coast (also influenced by other recent changes slowing the pace of games, such as video reviews and the kickoff for late games being moved from 4:15 to 4:25&nbsp;p.m. Eastern Time), CBS began to move the start of its prime-time schedule in the eastern and central times zones to 7:30&nbsp;p.m./6:30&nbsp;p.m. on weeks that the network carries a 4:25&nbsp;p.m. game.<ref name=nyt-cbs730-nfl>{{cite web |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=September 11, 2012 |title=CBS Adjusts Schedule to Account for Longer N.F.L. Games |url=https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/cbs-adjusts-schedule-to-account-for-longer-n-f-l-games/ |work=The New York Times |access-date=September 18, 2012}}</ref>

Super Bowl XLVII was broadcast for free on the [[Internet television|internet]] on the host network's website, in this case [[CBSSports.com]]. CBS charged an average of $4 million for a 30-second commercial during the game, the highest rate for any Super Bowl.<ref>{{cite web|title=Is It Worth Spending $4 Million On A Super Bowl Commercial?|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/darrenheitner/2013/01/29/is-it-worth-spending-4-million-on-a-super-bowl-commercial/|author=Darren Heitner|work=Forbes|date=April 18, 2013|access-date=February 4, 2013}}</ref> According to [[Nielsen Company|Nielsen]], Super Bowl XLVII was watched by an estimated average total audience of 108.69<!---Ratings are final, do not change---> million U.S. viewers, with a record 164.1 million tuning into at least six minutes of the game.<ref>{{cite web|title=Super Bowl ratings dip slightly from last year|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-0205-super-bowl-ratings-20130205,0,1416129.story|author=Scott Collins|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=February 5, 2013|date=February 5, 2013}}</ref>

====2014–2017: Thursday night games====
{{See also|Thursday Night Football}}
In January 2014, reports surfaced that the NFL was shopping a selection of up to eight games from its ''[[Thursday Night Football]]'' package to other broadcasters, including the league's existing broadcast partners, along with [[Turner Sports]]. While the league was seeking either a cable or broadcast outlet, they were strongly considering the latter.<ref name=nyt-newdeal>{{cite web|title=N.F.L. Explores New TV Deal|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/13/sports/football/nfl-may-sell-tv-rights-to-some-thursday-games.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid%3D=tw-nytsports&_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=January 13, 2014|access-date=January 17, 2014}}</ref><ref name=sbj-simulcast>{{cite web|title=Sources: NFL Wants Thursday Games Simulcast On NFL Network|url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2014/01/15/thursdays.aspx|work=Sports Business Journal|date=January 15, 2014|access-date=January 17, 2014}}</ref><ref name=sbj-abctnf>{{cite web|title=Sources: ABC Planning To Bid For Thursday Night NFL Package|url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2014/01/16/TNF.aspx|work=Sports Business Journaldate=January 16, 2014|date=January 16, 2014 |access-date=January 20, 2014}}</ref><ref name=wsj-bids>{{cite news|title=NFL Expected to Receive Bids to Air Thursday Games|url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304419104579327103838456122?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702304419104579327103838456122.html|work=Wall Street Journal|date = January 17, 2014|access-date=January 20, 2014|last1 = Sharma|first1 = Amol}}</ref>

On February 5, 2014, it was announced that CBS would air eight, early-season Thursday night games during the [[2014 NFL season]] in simulcast with NFL Network, with the remainder airing on NFL Network exclusively. CBS's team of [[Jim Nantz]] and [[Phil Simms]] handled commentary for all of the games, and CBS Sports produced all of the games in the package, including those on NFL Network, which would be produced in the manner of CBS telecasts. Tracy Wolfson would be the sideline reporter. Wolfson joined the NFL team on a permanent basis after working [[Southeastern Conference#Football|SEC games]] for [[SEC on CBS|CBS]] since [[2004 NCAA Division I-A football season|2004]]. She was replaced by Allie LaForce in that capacity. As a part of the contract, CBS was also allowed to broadcast a Saturday game in Week 16 for the first time since 2005.<ref name=cbs-nflthursday>{{cite web|title=CBS to broadcast eight Thursday night football games in 2014|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24431657/cbs-to-take-eight-thursday-night-games-in-2014|work=CBS Sports|date=February 5, 2014}}</ref><ref name=usatoday-nflcbs>{{cite web|title=CBS to broadcast NFL games on Thursday in 2014|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2014/02/05/cbs-thursday-tv-games-nfl-network/5227869/|work=USA Today|date=February 5, 2014}}</ref>

On January 18, 2015, the NFL announced that CBS and the NFL Network would again partner, with the same broadcast schedule, during the [[2015 NFL season]].<ref name=cbs-nflthursday2015>{{cite web|title=NFL, CBS continue partnership for Thursday Night Football|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-cbs-continue-partnership-on-thursday-night-football-0ap3000000459912|work=CBS Sports|date=January 18, 2015}}</ref> The contract is again only for one year, while CBS's Sunday contract is 12 years long. The contract was renewed for another two years for the 2016 and 2017 seasons, with the network load reduced to five games each year. CBS also partnered with [[Yahoo! Sports]] during the 2015 season, with Yahoo live streaming a CBS-produced game around the globe. The game was not available on CBS except in the local markets of the teams ([[2015 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jacksonville]] and [[2015 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo]]). CBS again produced Yahoo! Sports's webcast of the [[2017 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jaguars]]' 2017 game against the [[2017 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]].

On January 31, 2018, the NFL announced that Fox won the rights to televise ''Thursday Night Football'' for the next five seasons; this came after CBS requested a lower rights fee to compensate for declining viewership.<ref>{{cite press release|title=FOX SPORTS REACHES FIVE YEAR RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITH NFL TO BROADCAST THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL PRESENTED BY BUD LIGHT|url=https://nflcommunications.com/Pages/FOX-SPORTS-REACHES-FIVE-YEAR-RIGHTS-AGREEMENT-WITH-NFL-TO-BROADCAST--THURSDAY-NIGHT-FOOTBALL-PRESENTED-BY-BUD-LIGHT.aspx|publisher=National Football League|date=January 31, 2018|access-date=February 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bonesteel|first=Matt|title='Thursday Night Football' will move to Fox next season|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/01/31/thursday-night-football-reportedly-will-move-to-fox-next-season/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 31, 2018|access-date=February 1, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

====Tony Romo joins CBS====
Following his retirement from the NFL, [[Tony Romo]] was hired by [[CBS Sports]] to serve as the lead [[color analyst]] for the network's NFL telecasts, working in the booth alongside play-by-play announcer [[Jim Nantz]], replacing [[Phil Simms]], who was moved to the studio for ''[[The NFL Today]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tony Romo to replace Phil Simms in broadcast booth|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/tony-romo-to-replace-phil-simms-in-broadcast-booth-0ap3000000797442|author=Patra, Kevin|website=NFL.com|date=April 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/apr/04/tony-romo-retire-dallas-cowboys-nfl|title=Tony Romo retires from NFL to move into CBS broadcast booth|date=April 4, 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=April 11, 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

While there was no controversy regarding Romo deciding to retire and move on to broadcasting, some critics questioned Romo being immediately hired for the number one position ahead of broadcasting veterans [[Dan Fouts]], [[Trent Green]], or [[Rich Gannon]], all of whom served in the number 2–4 positions respectively for CBS, with Fouts having once been the color commentator on ''[[Monday Night Football]]''. While some critics had speculated that Romo was handed the top position so quickly because [[America's Team|he wore a star on his helmet]],<ref>{{cite news | url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2017/09/10/undrafted-top-prospect-tony-romo-rookie-gotten-ready-broadcast-career | title=The inside story on how Tony Romo went from Cowboys to CBS analyst | first=Barry | last=Horn | date=September 12, 2017 | work=[[The Dallas Morning News]]}}</ref> other reports cited CBS having grown tired of Simms in the role, which was a mutual feeling shared by Simms himself.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://awfulannouncing.com/cbs/phil-simms-seems-pleased-transition-broadcast-booth-studio.html | title=Phil Simms seems pleased with his transition from the broadcast booth to the studio | date=December 27, 2017 }}</ref> Nonetheless, none of the ex-players and coaches in a lead position on other networks at the time of Romo's hiring ([[Troy Aikman]], [[Cris Collinsworth]], and [[Jon Gruden]]) started their broadcasting career in the lead position.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2017/04/05/tony-romo-joins-line-cowboys-qb-analysts-humane-works-way | title=Why CBS handed Tony Romo the keys to the penthouse so quickly | first=Barry | last=Horn | date=April 5, 2017 | work=[[The Dallas Morning News]]}}</ref> Simms jokingly asked Romo "How does that seat feel?" during Week 1 of ''The NFL Today''.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-cowboys/cowboys/2017/09/10/awkward-tony-romo-conducts-interview-phil-simms-analyst-replaced | title=Awkward! Tony Romo conducts interview with Phil Simms, the analyst he replaced | date=September 10, 2017 | work=[[The Dallas Morning News]]}}</ref>

Once the [[2017 NFL season]] got underway, Romo received critical praise for his work as a recent ex-player, most notably for his ability to predict offensive plays and read defensive formations from the booth, and "adding an enthusiasm that had been lacking with Simms".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/08/cbs-nfl-tony-romo-jim-nantz-first-game-practice | title=This is the moment Jim Nantz knew Tony Romo would be an amazing broadcaster | first=Charles | last=Curtis | date=August 30, 2017 | work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://sports.yahoo.com/tony-romo-wins-high-praise-broadcast-debut-195933690.html | title=Tony Romo wins high praise for his broadcast debut | first=Jay | last=Busbee | date=September 10, 2017 | publisher=[[Yahoo Sports]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2017/09/11/Media/Tony-Romo.aspx | title=Tony Romo Widely Praised For CBS NFL Broadcasting Debut During Raiders–Titans | date=September 11, 2017 | publisher=SportsBusiness Daily}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.si.com/tech-media/2017/09/11/tony-romo-broadcast-debut-cbs-former-cowboys-qb-impresses | title=How Did Tony Romo Do in His CBS Broadcast Debut? | first=Richard | last=Deitsch | date=September 11, 2017 | magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>

Romo and Nantz received further acclaim for their broadcasting of the [[2018–19 NFL playoffs#AFC: New England Patriots 37, Kansas City Chiefs 31 (OT)|2018 AFC Championship Game between]] the [[2018 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] and [[2018 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]], as "Nantz continually set Romo up to make his predictions and analysis prior to the snap", and some suggested that Chiefs head coach "[[Andy Reid]] could have used Romo on his defensive staff, because the former quarterback knew just about every play the Patriots were going to run down the stretch". According to ''[[The Guardian]]'', the "beauty of Romo's analysis is that it feels like he's in on the fun with you."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/21/tom-brady-new-england-patriots-kansas-city-chiefs-super-bowl-nfl|title = Tom Brady was already the greatest QB of all time – now he's just rubbing it in|website = [[TheGuardian.com]]|date = January 21, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/eagles/tony-romo-cbs-patriots-chiefs-tom-brady-nfl-playoffs-super-bowl-20190121.html|title = Tony Romo was the real star of the Patriots-Chiefs AFC championship game| date=January 21, 2019 }}</ref> Romo and Nantz called [[Super Bowl LIII]] in Atlanta.

CBS's coverage of Super Bowl LIII utilized a total of 115 cameras, including [[8K resolution]] cameras (for the first time in a U.S. network sports telecast) in the end zones, as well as field-level and "up close" [[augmented reality]] graphics (with the latter generated from a wireless, handheld camera).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/cbs-sports-to-use-4k-8k-cameras-for-super-bowl-liii-broadcast|title=CBS Sports to Use 4K, 8K Cameras for Super Bowl LIII Broadcast|last=Butts|first=Tom|website=TvTechnology|date=January 10, 2019|access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2019/01/11/cbs-sports-outlines-tech-innovations-for-super-bowl-liii-in-atlanta/|title=CBS Sports Outlines Tech Innovations for Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta|website=Sports Video Group|date=January 11, 2019|access-date=January 15, 2019}}</ref> Initial overnight [[Nielsen Ratings]] measured a 44.9 rating for the game, down 5% from the previous year and the lowest rating for a Super Bowl since [[Super Bowl XLIII]] ten years prior.<ref>{{cite web|last=Concha |first=Joe |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/428323-lowest-scoring-super-bowl-becomes-lowest-rated-championship-telecast-since |title=Lowest-scoring Super Bowl becomes lowest-rated championship telecast since 2009 |work=The Hill |date=February 4, 2019 |access-date=February 4, 2019}}</ref> 98.2&nbsp;million viewers were measured, the fewest since [[Super Bowl XLII]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2019/02/05/Super-Bowl-LIII-telecast-drew-982M-viewers-lowest-in-11-years/1581549368680/|title=Super Bowl LIII telecast drew 98.2M viewers; lowest in 11 years|work=UPI|date=February 5, 2019|access-date=February 5, 2019}}</ref> [[Jemele Hill]] of ''[[The Atlantic]]'' attributed the low ratings "to the game being the lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever, moderate national interest in the [[2018 Los Angeles Rams season|Rams]], the lingering bad taste from the huge blown call in the [[2018 NFC Championship Game|NFC Championship Game]], and Patriots fatigue".<ref>{{cite news |last=Hill |first=Jemele |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/02/kaepernick-has-staying-power-super-bowl-week/581986/ |title=Kaepernick Has Staying Power |work=The Atlantic |date=February 4, 2019 |access-date=February 4, 2019 }}</ref>