Overnight (metered market) ratings by sport.
Basketball.
3.4: NBA on ABC, Mavericks/Lakers (3:30 PM Sunday)
2.3: NBA on ABC, Bulls/Cavaliers (3:30 PM Sunday)
1.9/5: College basketball on CBS, Kentucky/Tennessee (12 PM Sunday)
1.6/4: College basketball on CBS, Duke/NC State (12 PM Saturday)
1.6/4: College basketball on CBS, Indiana/Michigan State (2 PM Sunday)
1.6/3: College basketball on CBS, regional (4 PM Sunday)
1.5/4: College basketball on CBS, Georgetown/Marquette (2 PM Saturday)
1.4: College basketball on ABC, UNC/Boston College (3:30 PM Saturday)
1.3/3: College basketball on CBS, regional (4 PM Saturday)
- ABC drew strong numbers for a hotly contested game between two big market powerhouses. The Lakers’ overtime victory over the Mavericks drew a 3.4 overnight, up 42% from the 2.4 the comparable Lakers/Suns game last year drew. The 2.3 for Bulls/Cavaliers was less impressive, though there was no 1 PM game last year to compare it to.
- CBS aired six college basketball games over the weekend, and all six saw double-digit declines in ratings. The biggest decline came for the final game of the weekend, as regional action drew a 1.6 — off 47% from Duke/North Carolina in the same timeslot last year.
Auto racing.
6.2/12: NASCAR on FOX, UAW-Dodge 400 (3:30 PM Sunday)
- NASCAR continues to put up strong numbers. The 6.2 overnight for the UAW-Dodge 400 marks a 13% jump over the 5.5 the same race drew last year. The 6.2 was easily the highest overnight of the weekend.
Golf.
2.4/5: PGA Tour on NBC, Honda Classic, Final Round (3 PM Sunday)
1.7/4: PGA Tour on NBC, Honda Classic, Third Round (3 PM Saturday)
- Ratings for the Honda Classic were mediocre for golf, but only down slightly from last year. The 2.4 for final round action was down 4% from a 2.5 last year, while the 1.7 for the third round on Saturday was off 6% from a 1.8 last year.
Other.
1.5/4: Gymnastics on NBC, Tyson American Cup (1 PM Saturday)
1.1/3: NHL on NBC, Rangers/Flyers (12:30 PM Sunday)
0.8: AFL on ABC, Desperados/Force (1 PM Saturday)
- Arena Football got off to a less than stellar start. The 0.8 overnight for the AFL’s season debut marks a 33% drop from the 1.2 for last year’s season opener. Keep in mind the season opener last year aired on a Sunday afternoon.
- The NHL on NBC continues to see declining ratings. The 1.1 for Rangers/Flyers Sunday afternoon marks a 15% drop from the 1.3 regional action drew last year. Perhaps replacing regionalized games with a national ‘Game of the Week’ was not the best idea.
