Few non-NFL sporting events have ever earned better overnight rating on cable than Thursday’s NFL Draft coverage.
The first round of the 2014 NFL Draft earned a combined 8.6 overnight rating on ESPN and NFL Network, according to Sports Business Daily — easily the highest on record for the event. The previous high was a 6.4 overnight in 2010.
ESPN earned a 6.8 for its coverage, up 47% from last year (4.6) and up 42% from 2012 (4.8). The network’s previous high was a 5.4 overnight in 2010.
The 8.6 overnight for the NFL Draft compares favorably to some of the highest profile sporting events on cable. Only one NBA game has ever drawn a higher overnight on cable, Game 7 of the Celtics/Heat Eastern Conference Finals in 2012 (9.1). In college basketball, only Kentucky/Wisconsin in this year’s Final Four had a higher overnight (9.0), and that was across three networks (TNT+TBS+TruTV). Two Major League Baseball games have earned a larger overnight, Game 6 of the Yankees/Rangers ALCS in 2010 (8.9) and Game 7 of the Red Sox/Rays ALCS in 2008 (10.0).
As is usually the case, the NFL Draft easily topped all other sports competition Thursday night. The NBA Playoffs on ESPN2 earned overnights of 2.6 (Nets/Heat) and 2.7 (Blazers/Spurs), while the Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBCSN earned a 1.2 (Bruins/Canadiens) and a 0.7 (Ducks/Kings).
(Thu. overnights from Sports Business Daily, ESPN)
