The U.S. Figure Skating Championships put up impressive numbers on NBC Saturday night.
Coverage of the Ladies Free Skate drew a 4.0 overnight rating on NBC Saturday, up 33% from a 3.0 last year, and up 5% from a 3.8 in ’08. The 4.0 overnight is the highest for coverage of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships since the primetime window in ’06 drew a 4.7.
To put the numbers in perspective, the 4.0 overnight tops all five of last year’s Saturday night NASCAR races on broadcast (FOX, ABC).
Earlier in the day, coverage of the Original Dance portion of the event drew a 2.5 overnight rating, up 19% from a 2.1 for last year’s comparable telecast.
On Sunday, a re-air of the Ladies Free Skate drew a 1.6 overnight, down 30% from a 2.3 for live coverage of the Men’s Free Skate in a similar window last year.
Meanwhile, the Smuckers Figure Skating Spectacular drew a 2.9 overnight on Sunday night, opposite the tail end of the Vikings/Saints NFC Championship Game. There was no comparable telecast last year.
