First, the results of last week’s predictions.
- NFL on FOX, Eagles/Cardinals. Prediction: 23.1. Final rating: 21.9. The 21.9 final rating for the Cardinals’ win over the Eagles last Sunday was down 25% from last year’s NFC title game between the Giants and Packers, and is the lowest rating for an NFL Conference Championship Game since 2006, when Panthers/Seahawks drew a 20.8.
- NFL on CBS, Ravens/Steelers. Prediction: 24.7. Final rating: 22.0. Despite airing in prime time, the 22.0 for the Ravens/Steelers AFC title game was off 14% from a 25.7 for last year’s Chargers/Patriots game, which aired in the afternoon.
- NHL on NBC, Rangers/Penguins. Prediction: 0.9. Final rating: 1.0. The 1.0 rating for Rangers/Penguins last Sunday was up 25% from a 0.8 for Bruins/Rangers in ’08, and is the highest non-Winter Classic regular season rating for an NHL telecast on NBC since March ’07.
- College basketball on ABC, Wake/Clemson or Kansas/Colorado. Prediction: 1.4. Final rating: 1.0. The 1.0 rating for the season debut of college basketball on ABC was off a whopping 41% from a 1.7 for last year’s Maryland/UNC tilt.
This week’s predictions:
- NBA on ABC, Mavericks/Celtics, 1 PM Sunday — The NBA returns to broadcast television for the first time since Christmas Day, with ratings up double digits on ABC, ESPN and TNT. The first game of ABC’s doubleheader is a battle between the once-powerful Mavericks and the defending champion Celtics. More importantly, the game matches the #5 and #7 television markets in the country. Look for ratings to improve over the 1.8 for last year’s Celtics/Magic tilt. Prediction: 2.0.
- NBA on ABC, Spurs/Lakers, 3:30 PM Sunday — The two most successful NBA teams of the decade, and the two best teams in the West, square off in the second game of ABC’s doubleheader. The Lakers are always a draw, even against the low-profile Spurs. Look for ratings for this game to surpass even the 2.8 Cavaliers/Lakers drew in ’07. Prediction: 2.9.
- NHL on Versus, NHL All Star Game, 6 PM Sunday — The Winter Classic is a much more high profile event than the NHL All Star Game, which will air in relative obscurity on Versus. Last year’s All Star Game drew a 0.5 U.S. area rating. With NHL ratings up across the board, expect higher numbers this time around. Prediction: 0.6.
- Figure skating on NBC, U.S. Championships, 9 PM Saturday — The U.S. Figure Skating Championships return to NBC for the second straight year. Last year, the women’s final drew a 3.3 in prime time, up 74% from the previous year. With the Winter Olympics a year away, look for ratings to increase again this year. Prediction: 3.6.
