Overnight ratings for sporting events on broadcast.
Some information taken from USA Today.
Olympic trials.
4.4: U.S. Olympic Trials, Women’s Gymnastics (7 PM Sunday)
3.6/7: U.S. Olympic Trials, Women’s Gymnastics (8 PM Saturday, taped)
2.6/6: U.S. Olympic Trials, Diving (3 PM Sunday)
2.0/5: U.S. Olympic Trials, Men’s Gymnastics Finals (4:30 PM Saturday)
1.3/3: U.S. Olympic Trials, Diving (3:30 PM Saturday)
- Overnight ratings for the U.S. women’s gymnastics trials on Sunday were down 10% from comparable coverage four years ago, but the final rating actually increased from 2004. The event finished with a 3.9/7 final rating and 6.3 million viewers, compared to a 3.8/7 and 5.8 million viewers in ’04.
- Four of NBC’s five Olympic trials broadcasts drew overnight ratings of 2.0 or higher. No other sporting events on broadcast last weekend could achieve the same feat.
Golf.
1.7/4: PGA on CBS, Travelers Championship, Final Round (3 PM Sunday)
1.1/3: PGA on CBS, Travelers Championship, Third Round (3 PM Saturday)
- USA Today reports final round coverage of the Travelers Championship saw an 11% drop in ratings compared to last year.
Extreme sports.
0.9/2: AST Dew Tour on NBC, Panasonic Open, BMX Vert Finals (1 PM Sunday)
0.8/2: AST Dew Tour on NBC, Panasonic Open, Skate Park Finals (2 PM Saturday)
- Ratings for the Panasonic Open on NBC were unchanged from ’07, despite airing in an earlier timeslot this year.
Other.
1.9: MLB on FOX, Red Sox/Cardinals (3:30 PM Saturday)
1.5: Euro 2008 on ABC, Netherlands/Russia (2:30 PM Saturday)
1.1: IRL on ABC, Ethanol Indycar 250 (1 PM Sunday)
0.7: Red Bull X Fighters on ABC (3:30 PM Sunday)
- Despite featuring the defending champion Boston Red Sox in a rematch of the 2004 World Series, ratings for baseball on FOX still fell 37% from a 3.0 last year.
- Going head-to-head with golf and baseball on Saturday afternoon, Euro 2008 coverage on ABC put up decent numbers. The 1.5 overnight for Netherlands/Russia was competitive with baseball on FOX and outdrew third-round coverage of the Travelers Championship on CBS.









