Ratings for the PGA Tour Texas Open were the highest in years. In other news, NBC hit a season-low for NHL action last weekend, and an the first all-Williams tennis match in four years was not much of a draw.
Texas Open Highest Rated Since At Least ’09
- Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Texas Open earned a 1.8 U.S. rating and 2.5 million viewers on NBC last Sunday afternoon, up 29% in ratings from last year (1.4), and up 50% and 39%, respectively, from 2011 (1.2, 1.8M). The 1.8 rating is the highest any round of the Texas Open since the tournament moved to the spring in 2009. Third round action the previous day drew a 1.2 and 1.7 million, up 20% from last year (1.0), and up 33% and 32%, respectively, from 2011 (0.9, 1.3M). The Texas Open ranks as the first PGA Tour event since Doral to have an increase in ratings for third or final round coverage. (Weekend numbers from Sports Business Daily)
NHL on NBC Hits Season-Low
- Last Sunday’s Red Wings/Blues NHL regular season game finished with a mere 0.6 final rating and 902,000 viewers on NBC, the lowest rated and least-viewed NHL telecast of the season on the network. The previous lows were a 0.7 and 959,000 viewers for Rangers/Bruins on March 10. (Weekend numbers from Sports Business Daily)
Small TV Audience For All-Williams Match
- Serena and Venus Williams‘ first head-to-head meeting in four years did not attract much of an audience last week. The all-Williams Family Circle Cup semifinal earned just a 0.2 U.S. rating and 306,000 viewers on ESPN2 last Saturday afternoon; comparisons to last year were not available. On Sunday, the final between Serena and Jelena Jankovic drew a 0.3 and 426,000 viewers. (Weekend numbers from Son of the Bronx)
