First, the results of last week’s predictions:
- NASCAR on ESPN, Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. Prediction: 4.0. Final rating: 4.2. ESPN’s return to NASCAR tied last month’s Home Run Derby as the highest rated program on the network this year.
- MLB on FOX, Regional action. Prediction: 1.8. Final rating: 2.2. Baseball can be satisfied that even its lackluster match-ups can still draw a relatively solid rating.
- ArenaBowl on ABC, Sabercats v. Destroyers. Prediction: 0.6. Final rating: 0.7. The Arena Bowl was even from last year, despite the awful number.
- Tour de France on CBS, Final stage. Prediction: 0.5. Final rating: 0.7. Numbers for the beleaguered Tour de France were down 36% from last year. Credit lack of an American contender and the doping scandals that have plagued cycling.
- MLS on ESPN, Chelsea FC v. L.A. Galaxy (July 21). Prediction: 0.6. Final rating: 0.9. David Beckham‘s debut drew a huge rating for MLS, though the 0.9 puts the much hyped game on par with regular season NBA and baseball games.
This week’s predictions:
- NASCAR on ESPN, Pennsylvania 500, 2:00 PM Sunday — Coming off a huge 4.2 rating for the Allstate 400 (the highest rating of the year for a NASCAR race on cable), look for ESPN to keep up the momentum. Prediction: 3.8.
- MLB on FOX, Regional action, 3:30 PM Saturday — The big-market Mets/Cubs battle should draw a significant amount of viewers, though that may not translate into the big time Yankee-powered numbers from earlier in the season. Prediction: 2.4.
- X Games on ABC, 3:00 PM Saturday and Sunday — Last year’s Summer X Games drew ratings of 1.1 and 1.0 on ABC; do not expect much change in the ratings for this year’s edition. Prediction: 0.9 and 1.0.
- NFL on NFL Network, Hall of Fame Game, 8:00 PM Sunday — The highest rated NFL game on the NFL Network last season drew a 2.3 (Broncos/Chiefs on Thanksgiving night). With that in mind, do not expect big numbers for the Hall of Fame Game. Prediction: 1.4.
