Overnight (metered market) ratings by sport:
Football.
6.9/13: NFL on FOX, Pro Bowl (4:45 PM Sunday)
- The Pro Bowl may be a waste of time to some, but it is still football — and as such, is still a big draw. The 6.9 overnight for the NFL’s All Star Game on FOX marks a 35% jump from last year, and is the highest rating for the Pro Bowl since 2003.
Basketball.
2.9: NBA on ABC, Lakers/Heat (3:30 PM Sunday)
2.6: NBA on ABC, Spurs/Celtics (1 PM Sunday)
1.6/4: College basketball on CBS, BC/Duke (1 PM Saturday)
1.4: NBA Countdown on ABC (12:30 PM Sunday)
1.3/3: College basketball on CBS, Indiana/Ohio State (1 PM Sunday)
1.1: College basketball on ABC, regional (3:30 PM Saturday)
- ABC drew healthy ratings for its NBA coverage on Sunday. The 2.6 overnight for Spurs/Celtics marks an 8% increase over the 2.4 for Spurs/Heat in the same timeslot last year. The game also drew double the rating of the college basketball game on CBS airing at the same time.
- The 2.9 overnight for Lakers/Heat marks a 6% decline from the 3.1 Lakers/Cavaliers drew on the comparable date last year. Still, the 2.9 is an impressive rating, considering that the Heat have the worst record in the NBA, have traded away Shaquille O’Neal, and the game aired opposite the Pro Bowl on FOX.
Auto racing.
4.5/8: NASCAR on FOX, Budweiser Shootout (8 PM Saturday)
2.7/6: NASCAR on FOX, Daytona 500 Pole Qualifying (1 PM Sunday)
- NASCAR returned to FOX with improved ratings. Without the Pro Bowl to compete with on Saturday, the Budweiser Shootout saw a 7% increase in ratings, from a 4.2 in ’07 to a 4.5 this year. Meanwhile, qualifying for the Daytona 500 drew a 2.7 overnight on Sunday, up 8% from ’07.
Golf.
2.6/5: PGA Tour on CBS, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Final Round (3 PM Sunday)
1.9/5: PGA Tour on CBS, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Third Round (3 PM Saturday)
- While the Pro Bowl and NASCAR saw their ratings increase, the PGA saw major declines for the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Third round coverage drew a 1.9 on Saturday, down 24% from last year, and final round coverage drew a 2.6 on Sunday, down 16%.
Other.
1.0/2: Monster Energy AMA Supercross on CBS (12 PM Sunday)
1.0/2: PBR on NBC, Anaheim Invitational (4:30 PM Saturday)
0.9/2: NHL on NBC, Ducks/Red Wings (3:30 PM Sunday)
0.9/2: Tylenol Skating & Gymnastics Spectacular on NBC (2:30 PM Saturday)
0.8/2: Visa Freestyle International Skicross on NBC (2 PM Sunday)
- The NHL on NBC tied as the second-lowest rated sporting event of the weekend, and fell behind extreme sports and bull riding. Since the Winter Classic, NBC has averaged a 0.9 overnight for its three NHL telecasts.
