First, the results of last week’s predictions:
- MLB on FOX, Regional action. Prediction: 2.0. Final rating: 2.2. Baseball on FOX fell 4% from last year, though the 2.2 rating still managed to be the highest of the weekend on broadcast.
- MLB on ESPN, Home Run Derby (July 9). Prediction: 4.6. Final rating: 4.3. The Derby fell 2% from last year, from a 4.4 national rating to a 4.3. Still, it ranks as the highest rated ESPN broadcast of the year so far.
- NASCAR on TNT, USG Sheetrock 400. Prediction: 3.4. Final rating: 4.0. A huge rating to finish a successful run of NASCAR races on TNT. Expect ESPN to have more of the same success.
- WNBA on ABC, All Star Game. Prediction: 0.7. Final rating: 0.7. The All Star Game was down 13% from the Connecticut/Sacramento game on the comparable date last year. Worse, the game was off 30% from the 1.0 rating the last All Star Game on broadcast television drew in 2005.
Final rating for “ESPY Awards on ESPN” currently unavailable.
This week’s predictions:
- MLS on ESPN, Chelsea FC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy, 9:00 PM Saturday — Thanks to Michael Vick and Tim Donaghy, David Beckham has gone largely unnoticed this week. With expectations low due to an injury, expect a rating that will not justify a three-hour pregame show. Prediction: 0.6.
- British Open on ABC, 9:00 AM Saturday and 8:00 AM Sunday — Golf is far from the talk of the town this week, thanks to controversies disrupting the sports world. Still, the British Open should serve as a welcome distraction to dogfighting, game-fixing and steroids. Last year, the British Open drew a 3.2 Saturday rating and a 4.6 Sunday rating, huge considering the early timeslot. Prediction: 2.9 and 4.0.
- MLB on FOX, Regional action, 3:30 PM Saturday — FOX is stacked this week; games between New York/L.A. and Chicago/Boston should bring in the large-markets, while the possibility of Barry Bonds playing against Milwaukee (however slim) could bring additional eyeballs. Prediction: 2.8.
- IRL on ABC, Honda IndyCar 200, 1:30 PM Sunday — With NASCAR taking the week off, do not expect the IRL to pick up the ratings slack. Prediction: 0.9.
