First, the results of last week’s predictions:
- NBA on ABC, Celtics/Magic. Prediction: 2.2. Final rating: 1.8. Kevin Garnett sitting out this one likely had some effect on the ratings; the 1.8 for Orlando’s buzzer beating victory over Boston marks a 14% drop from the 2.1 for Suns/Cavs last year.
- NBA on ABC, Cavaliers/Lakers. Prediction: 2.7. Final rating: 2.8. A close battle between two of the preeminent stars in the NBA, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, netted ABC a solid rating on Sunday afternoon. The 2.8 for the Cavaliers’ victory over the Lakers was even with the comparable Spurs/Lakers game in ’07.
- NHL All Star Game on Versus. Prediction: 1.0. Final rating: 0.8. All Star Game ratings were up from last year, but the game still failed to draw a 1.0 rating. The 0.8 for the game last Sunday marks a 14% jump over the 0.7 for last year’s midweek All Star Game.
- Winter X Games on ABC. Prediction: 1.5. Final rating: 1.3. The Winter X Games were the most watched ever, and the Saturday afternoon telecast on ABC saw a 9% bump in ratings. ABC was “up across the board among all people and male demos, with Men 18+ up 29% from last year.”
- U.S. Figure Skating Championships on NBC, Women’s Final. Prediction: 1.7. Final rating: 3.3. A 3.3 rating is usually decent, but not in prime time. Figure skating was beaten head to head by a CBS special on Super Bowl commercials (3.6). Still, the 3.3 marks a 74% increase from the 1.9 coverage drew in an afternoon timeslot last year.
Final national ratings for the Buick Invitational on CBS are unavailable.
This week’s predictions:
- NFL on FOX, Giants/Patriots, 6 PM Sunday — The Super Bowl is always a major event, but moreso this year. The New England Patriots are going for an undefeated season, versus an underdog from the largest media market in the country. Some are predicting that this game could approach such milestones as a 50 rating and over 100 million viewers. Prediction: 45.9.
- NFL pregame on FOX, 2 PM Sunday — Opposite live sports, expect this four-hour hype/celebrity marathon to draw a massive rating. Last year, CBS’ The Super Bowl Today drew an 8.4. Prediction: 9.1.
- NBA on ABC, Mavericks/Pistons, 2:30 PM Sunday — NBA games do not typically put up huge numbers on Super Bowl Sunday, and this game will be swamped by NFL pregame coverage on FOX. Last year, Pistons/Cavaliers drew a 1.9 rating; without LeBron James, expect this game to sink lower. Prediction: 1.6.
- NHL on NBC, Rangers/Canadiens, 2 PM Sunday — An NHL game featuring a Canadian team seemingly has no chance of drawing a decent rating opposite Super Bowl pregame coverage and the NBA. After Bruins/Rangers drew a 0.8 two weeks ago, do not be surprised to see an even lower rating this week. Prediction: 0.6.
