Golf Update: Honda Classic Final Rating Ties Ten-Year High

Posted by | 03/13/2012 at 10:31 pm

Boosted by Tiger Woods‘ second-place finish, final round coverage of the recent Honda Classic scored a massive increase in ratings on NBC.

Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Honda Classic earned a 2.8 final rating and 4.111 million viewers on NBC March 4, up 65% in ratings and 64% in viewership from last year (1.7, 2.502M), and up 75% and 77%, respectively, from 2010 (1.6, 2.324M).

The 2.8 rating is tied as the highest for the final round of the Honda Classic since 2002 (3.4).

The Honda Classic was the fifth straight PGA Tour tournament to have a double-digit increase in ratings and viewership for final round coverage. Three of those five telecasts had increases of over 60% in both measures.

Third round action the previous day drew a 1.7 and 2.341 million viewers, up 13% in ratings and 11% in viewership from last year (1.5, 2.114M), and up 42% and 43%, respectively from 2010 (1.2, 1.643M).

Ratings/Viewership For PGA Tour on Broadcast This Season
With comparisons to last year

Date Event Round Net Rating vs. ’11 Viewers (000) vs. ’11
Sat., 1/28/12 Farmers’ Insurance Open Third CBS
1.0
-50%
1,374
-55%
Sun., 1/29/12 Final CBS
1.8
-49%
2,624
-51%
Sat., 2/4/12 Phoenix Open Third CBS
1.3
-24%
1,940
-21%
Sun., 2/5/12 Final CBS
2.0
+11%
3,069
+14%
Sat., 2/11/12 Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Third CBS
2.6
+63%
3,851
+70%
Sun., 2/12/12 Final CBS
4.9
+113%
7,380
+115%
Sat., 2/18/12 Northern Trust Open Third CBS
2.1
n/a
2,870
n/a
Sun., 2/19/12 Final CBS
4.2
+83%
6,234
+77%
Sat., 2/25/12 Accenture Match Play Championship Third NBC
1.3
-24%
1,863
-24%
Sun., 2/26/12 Final NBC
2.3
+35%
3,335
+30%
Sat., 3/3/12 Honda Classic Third NBC
1.7
+13%
2,341
+11%
Sun., 3/4/12 Final NBC
2.8
+65%
4,111
+64%

(This year’s Honda Classic ratings/viewership obtained from Media Life Magazine)

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