Overnight ratings for sporting events on broadcast.
*excluding events on FOX.
Basketball.
6.9: NBA on ABC, Cavaliers/Celtics (3:30 PM Sunday)
2.2: NBA Countdown on ABC (3 PM Sunday)
0.9: WNBA on ABC, Sparks/Mercury (3:30 PM Saturday)
- Game 7 of the Celtics/Cavaliers series drew the fifth-highest overnight for an NBA game on ABC, excluding the NBA Finals. The 6.9 is up 82% from a 3.8 for Jazz/Spurs Game 1 last year, and up 3% from Cavaliers/Pistons Game 7 two years ago. The game also drew the highest overnight of any sporting event for the weekend, surpassing The Preakness on NBC.
- The WNBA season opener saw a 50% jump, thanks in part to much hyped rookie Candace Parker. The 0.9 overnight for Parker’s debut against Diana Taurasi and the defending champion Mercury is the highest for a season opener since 2004.
Horse racing.
6.2/14: The Preakness on NBC, race portion (5:45 PM Saturday)
5.1/12: The Preakness on NBC, total coverage (5 PM Saturday)
1.9/5: State of Horse Racing panel discussion on NBC (4:30 PM Saturday)
- Ratings for the second leg in the Triple Crown declined slightly from last year. The 6.2 for NBC’s coverage of the actual race marks a 3% drop from a 6.4 last year. Meanwhile, the 5.1 for total coverage of the event marks a 6% decline.
Hockey.
1.7/4: NHL on NBC, Flyers/Penguins (3 PM Sunday)
1.5/4: NHL on NBC, Stars/Red Wings (1:30 PM Saturday)
- The NHL saw a decent boost on NBC over the weekend. Stars/Red Wings on Saturday saw a 25% jump over the comparable Sabres/Senators game a year earlier, while Flyers/Penguins on Sunday saw a 6% increase. For the weekend, NBC averaged a 1.6 overnight for NHL coverage, up 14% from a 1.4 last year.
Golf.
1.8/4: PGA on CBS, AT&T Classic, Final Round (3 PM Sunday)
1.2/3: PGA on CBS, AT&T Classic, Third Round (3 PM Saturday)
0.4/1: Technology and Golf on CBS (2 PM Saturday)
- Ratings for the final round AT&T Classic were down double-digits. The 1.8 overnight for final round coverage marks a 10% decline from a 2.0 last year. CBS’ two day coverage of the event averaged a 1.5 overnight, down 7% from a 1.6 last year.
Other.
1.3/3: National Heads-Up Poker Tournament on NBC (12 PM Sunday)
1.3: IRL on ABC, Indianapolis 500 Bump Day (1 PM Sunday)
- Coverage of Indianapolis 500 Bump Day drew a 1.3 overnight on ABC Sunday afternoon, up 18% from a 1.1 last year.
