The ESPN family of networks has had a slight increase in college basketball viewership this season. In other news, overnight ratings increased for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and the Capital One Bowl was the top draw among non-BCS bowls.
Slight Increase For College Hoops on ESPN
- ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU have averaged 413,000 viewers for men’s college basketball games so far this season, up 4% from the comparable period last year. ESPN in particular has averaged a 0.9 U.S. rating and 1.4 million viewers, up 13% and 25%, respectively, from last year’s 0.8 and 1.1 million. (ESPN Media Zone)
Figure Skating Champ. Rises on NBC
- Primetime coverage of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, featuring the women’s free skate, earned a 3.0 overnight rating on NBC Saturday night — up 20% from last year (2.5), up 11% from 2012 (2.7), and the highest overnight for the window since 2010 (4.0). Afternoon coverage drew a 1.9 overnight on Saturday (+19%) and a 1.8 on Sunday (+20%). (This year’s numbers from Sports Business Daily)
