It may draw virtually the same audience on broadcast as an average NHL regular season game or IRL race, but swimming performed well for NBC over the weekend.
Coverage of the FINA Swimming World Championships drew a 1.0/3 overnight rating on Saturday and a 1.3/4 overnight on Sunday. The 1.3 for coverage on Sunday marks the highest overnight of the year for a swimming telecast on NBC.
Additionally, the 1.3 for Sunday coverage topped the Women’s British Open (third and final rounds), the U.S. Senior Open (third and final rounds), and Saturday and Sunday coverage of the X Games.
Overall, NBC averaged a 1.0 overnight rating for five swimming telecasts in ’09.
