First, the results of last week’s predictions.
- MLB on FOX, Regional action. Prediction: 1.7. Final rating: 2.4. Despite less-than-marquee match-ups, FOX still pulls in a decent number for its Game of the Week.
- NASCAR on TNT, Lenox Industrial Tools 300. Prediction: 3.2. Final rating: 3.4. With high-rated entertainment programs like The Closer, and with strong sports properties such as the NBA Playoffs and NASCAR, TNT finds itself near the top of the cable ratings almost every week.
- Wimbledon, Early round coverage (Saturday). Prediction: 1.4. Final rating: 1.2. Rain besieged Wimbledon this year, especially on Saturday when most of the day was washed out by rain.
- PGA Tour on CBS, Buick Open. Prediction: 0.7 and 1.2. Final rating: 1.1 and 1.6. While ratings improved by 57% and 60% for coverage on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, the numbers are still nothing to write home about.
- Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN, Tigers at Braves (June 24). Prediction: 1.4. Final rating: 1.7. While the game between the defending AL champion Tigers and perennial NL contender Braves failed to draw numbers close to what the New York Yankees are putting up, the 1.7 is still a decent rating for baseball on cable.
This week’s predictions:
- Wimbledon Final on NBC, Venus Williams v. Marion Bartoli, 9:00 AM Saturday — While the presence of a Williams sister should aid the ratings, the fact that Venus is playing a relative unknown should keep the numbers not much higher than the terrible 2.0 registered last year. Prediction: 2.5.
- Wimbledon Final on NBC, Roger Federer v. Rafael Nadal, 9:00 AM Sunday — Federer/Nadal is easily the best rivalry in tennis, though that should not translate into big numbers for the match tomorrow morning. Give Federer or Nadal American citizenship, and the ratings would soar. Prediction: 2.2.
- MLB on FOX, L.A. Angels v. N.Y. Yankees, 3:30 PM Saturday — With a New York/L.A. match-up being beamed out to most of the U.S., look for another big number for baseball on FOX. Prediction: 2.7.
- MLB on FOX, MLB All Star Game, 8:00 PM Tuesday — The baseball All-Star Game typically gets a rating comparable to or better than the Final Four, the Masters and the NBA Finals. With baseball’s television ratings on the rise, expect this year to be no different. Prediction: 10.2.
- MLB on ESPN, Home Run Derby, 8:00 PM Monday — The home run Derby gets huge numbers, comparable to NBA Conference Final games. Last year’s event drew 6.8 million viewers. Prediction: 4.6.
