Overnight (metered market) ratings by sport.
Only includes events on broadcast television.
Basketball.
2.4: NBA on ABC, Pistons/Suns (2:30 PM Sunday)
1.4/3: College basketball on CBS, Wisconsin/Ohio State (4 PM Sunday)
1.3: NBA Countdown on ABC (2 PM Sunday)
1.1/2: College basketball on CBS, Syracuse/Notre Dame (2 PM Sunday)
1.0: College basketball on ABC, regional (3:30 PM Saturday)
- It did not take long for viewers to tire of the novelty of Shaq on the Phoenix Suns. After Lakers/Suns gave ESPN its best regular season NBA ratings in four years, and after Celtics/Suns gave the same network a 75% boost in ratings, Pistons/Suns only gave ABC a 4% bump over the comparable Cavaliers/Heat broadcast last year. Still, considering the Pistons led by 36 points in the third quarter, the 2.4 rating has to be considered a minor win.
- CBS would not mind having ESPN’s luck. While Memphis/Tennessee was the most watched college basketball in the history of ESPN, all four college games on CBS over the weekend saw ratings drop by over 30%. Wisconsin/Ohio State in particular was down a whopping 55%.
Golf.
3.5/7: PGA Tour on NBC, WGC Accenture Match Play Championships, Finals (2 PM Sunday)
3.2/7: PGA Tour on NBC, WGC Accenture Match Play Championships, Semifinals (2 PM Saturday)
- Tiger Woods moves the needle. The 3.5 for the championship match of the Accenture Match Play Championships marks a 67% increase from last year. For the weekend, NBC saw its ratings climb 79%.
Auto racing.
6.1: NASCAR on FOX, Auto Club 500 (3:30 PM Sunday)
- Never underestimate the drawing power of NASCAR. Not only was the overnight rating for the waterlogged Auto Club 500 down only 2% from ’07, but the prime-time portion of the broadcast finished as the 14th most watched television program of the entire week.
Other.
0.9/2: Jeep King of the Mountain World Pro Snowboard Championships on CBS (1 PM Sunday, taped)
0.8/2: Laureus World Sports Awards on NBC (1 PM Sunday, taped)
0.8/2: Monster Energy AMA Supercross on CBS (12 PM Sunday, taped)
