First, the results of last week’s predictions:
- NCAA Tournament Selection Show on CBS. Prediction: 4.1. Final rating: 4.0. Are viewers losing interest in March Madness? Not only did ratings decline for the Selection Show for the fourth straight year, but preliminary numbers show that compared to last year, CBS early round coverage lost 2 million viewers on Thursday and another 1.3 million on Friday.
- ACC Championship Game on ESPN, UNC/Clemson. Prediction: 1.7. Final rating: 1.6. Despite losing Duke, ESPN still drew a decent increase for its ACC Championship Game coverage. The 1.6 for UNC’s victory over Clemson marks a 14% jump from a 1.4 last year.
- NASCAR on FOX, Food City 500. Prediction: 5.9. Final rating: 5.5. NASCAR ratings continue to rise. The 5.5 for the Food City 500 is an 8% increase over the 5.1 for the same race last year, when it aired on the same weekend as the NCAA Regional Finals.
Final national ratings for the NBA on ABC (Hornets/Pistons and Lakers/Rockets), the PGA on NBC and the NHL on NBC currently unavailable.
This week’s predictions.
- College basketball on CBS, NCAA Tournament, 12, 2:30 and 5 PM Sunday — If the preliminary numbers are any indication, NCAA Tournament ratings are sinking somewhat this year. Losing Duke, arguably the biggest draw in college basketball, cannot help. Last year, comparable NCAA Tournament coverage averaged ratings of 4.7, 6.5 and 7.2. Prediction: 4.3, 6.2, 7.7.
- NBA on ABC, Spurs/Mavericks, 1 PM Sunday — NBA ratings always tank during the NCAA Tournament. Last year, ABC drew ratings of 1.3 and 1.0 opposite March Madness, though ratings figure to improve thanks to better match-ups this year. Prediction: 1.5.
- PGA Tour on NBC, WGC CA Championship, 3 PM Sunday — March Madness or no March Madness, Tiger Woods is always a huge draw. Last year, his presence helped the WGC CA Championship to a solid 2.9 rating opposite the Regional Finals, and this year should be no different. Prediction: 3.0.
