Overnight ratings for recent sporting events, including a 60% increase for the MLS Cup, a three-year high for NASCAR’s season finale, and strong numbers for ABC’s Saturday Night Football.
- Big Increase For MLS Cup: Sunday’s Galaxy/Dynamo MLS Cup drew an 0.8 overnight rating on ESPN, up 60% from last year (COL/DAL: 0.5), but down 11% from 2009 (RSL/LA: 0.9). The is the sixth straight year the MLS Cup has failed to draw at least 1% of U.S. metered market homes. The game drew a 2.8 local rating in Houston, the same as the SMU/#10 Houston college football game the previous day.
- NASCAR’s Chase Ends on Positive Note: ESPN drew a 3.5 overnight rating for Sunday’s season-ending NASCAR Sprint Cup Ford 400, up 6% from last year (3.3), and up 9% from 2009 (3.2, ABC). This marks the highest rated NASCAR season finale in the metered markets since 2008 (3.6, ABC).
- USC/Oregon Strong For ABC: The latest edition of ABC’s Saturday Night Football, featuring USC/#4 Oregon, earned a 5.8 overnight rating — up 42% from Week 12 of last season (NEB/TAMU*: 4.1), and up 45% from Week 12 in 2009 (ORE/ARI*: 4.0). Earlier in the day, regional action including #21 Penn State/Ohio State drew a 4.2 overnight, down 9% from last year (OSU/IOWA*: 4.6), and up 31% from 2009 (PSU/MSU*: 3.2). Over on ESPN, #2 Oklahoma State/Iowa State earned a strong 3.7 overnight on Friday night.
