Overnight ratings increased substantially for the PGA Texas Open over the weekend. In other news, NBC hit a season-low for NHL action on Sunday, and ESPN had big declines for Friday’s NBA doubleheader.
Date Change Fuels Big Jump For Texas Open
- Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Texas Open earned a 2.1 overnight rating on NBC Sunday afternoon, up 31% from last year (1.6), and up 62% from 2011 (1.3). On Saturday, third round action drew a 1.4 — up 27% from last year (1.1), and up 40% from 2011 (1.0). Prior to this year, the tournament aired in late April, after The Masters. (Weekend numbers from Sports Business Daily)
Season-Low For NHL on NBC
- Sunday’s Red Wings/Blues NHL regular season game earned a mere 0.7 overnight rating on NBC, down 42% from Flyers/Penguins last year (1.2), and down 30% from Rangers/Flyers in 2011 (1.0). The 0.7 overnight is the lowest of the season for an NHL telecast on NBC (11 telecasts). (Weekend numbers from Sports Business Daily)
Big Declines For Heat/Bobcats on ESPN
- Friday’s Heat/Bobcats NBA regular season game earned 1.3 million viewers on ESPN, down 41% from Celtics/Hawks on the comparable night of the 2010-11 season (2.1M). The game was added to the schedule during Miami’s 27-game winning streak. Later in the night, Rockets/Trail Blazers drew 1.2 million — down 52% from Lakers/Jazz in 2011 (2.4M). There were no games on the comparable night of last season. (Fri. numbers from The Futon Critic)
