Wimbledon Wrap: Slightly More Viewers For NBC’s Swan Song

Posted by | 07/13/2011 at 3:39 pm

The final Wimbledon telecasts on NBC were up slightly from last year, but the numbers still ranked among the lowest in recent memory.

Coverage of Wimbledon on NBC, featuring the Novak Djokovic/Rafael Nadal Men’s Final, earned a 1.8 final rating and 2.652 million viewers July 3 — up 13% in ratings and 15% in viewership from last year (Nadal/Berdych: 1.6, 2.317M), but down a whopping 53% and 54%, respectively, from 2009 (Federer/Roddick: 3.8, 5.704M).

The 1.8 rating is the second-lowest for coverage of the Wimbledon Men’s Final since at least 1996 (ratings prior to 1997 were not available). Only last year’s telecast earned lower numbers.

The previous day, coverage featuring the Petra Kvitová/Maria Sharapova Women’s Final drew a 1.6 and 2.249 million viewers, flat in ratings and up 1% in viewership compared to last year (S. Williams/Zvonareva: 1.6, 2.234M), but down 30% and 31%, respectively, from 2009 (S. Williams/V. Williams: 2.3, 3.272M).

The 1.6 rating is tied as the lowest for coverage of the Wimbledon Women’s Final since at least 1996 (ratings prior to 1997 were not available).

This is the second straight year that both Wimbledon singles finals attracted fewer than 2% of U.S. TV homes. For some perspective, each singles final between 1997 and 2009 drew at least 2% of homes.

Other Wimbledon ratings: NBC drew a 1.0 final rating and 1.303 million viewers for afternoon coverage on July 2, featuring coverage of Rafael Nadal/Andy Murray Men’s Semifinal. The previous day, coverage featuring the Maria Sharapova/Sabine Lisicki Women’s Semifinal drew a 0.9 and 1.239 million.

Ratings/Viewership For Wimbledon Singles Finals
Dating back to 2002

Year
Net
Women’s
Men’s
Date
Rating
Viewers (000)
Date
Rating
Viewers (000)
2011
 NBC Sat., 7/2/11
1.6
2,249
 Sun., 7/3/11
1.8
2,652
2010
 NBC Sat., 7/3/10
1.6
2,234
 Sun., 7/4/10
1.6
2,317
2009
 NBC Sat., 7/4/09
2.3
3,272
 Sun., 7/5/09
3.8
5,706
2008
 NBC Sat., 7/5/08
2.5
3,654
 Sun., 7/6/08
3.5
5,173
2007
 NBC Sat., 7/7/07
2.2
3,056
 Sun., 7/8/07
2.7
3,753
2006
 NBC Sat., 7/8/06
2.0
2,654
 Sun., 7/9/06
2.5
3,401
2005
 NBC Sat., 7/2/05
3.4
4,616
 Sun., 7/3/05
2.1
2,750
2004
 NBC Sat., 7/3/04
3.1
3,981
 Sun., 7/4/04
2.8
3,640
2003
 NBC Sat., 7/5/03
2.9
3,421
 Sun., 7/6/03
2.2
2,670
2002
 NBC Sat., 7/6/02
3.4
4,554
 Sun., 7/7/02
2.4
3,212

(This year’s numbers courtesy Robert Seidman, TV By the Numbers)

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  • H.R. Pufnstuf

    Without Federer is just doesn’t seem like the American audience is all that interested in watching Nadal. You can also say that Djokovic isn’t a big draw either despite the amazing year he’s having.

    Mr.Paulsen any theories on why the American sporting public is cool to Nadal or maybe it speaks more to a general lack of interest in tennis.

     Do you think Andy Murray would have been a bigger draw on Sunday? Given the historical significance of being the 1st British male tennis player since 1938 to make the Wimbledon finals.