With NBC hitting likely record-lows in the overnights, it should be no surprise that ESPN also had declines for its U.S. Open coverage.
Second round coverage of the U.S. Open earned a 1.2 U.S. rating and 1.6 million viewers on ESPN Friday evening, down 29% in ratings and 34% in viewership from last year (1.7, 2.5M), and the network’s top telecast window of the tournament. The early window scored a 0.9 and 1.1 million, down 31% and 35%, respectively, from last year’s 1.3 and 1.7 million.
Shifting to Thursday’s action, evening coverage scored a 1.0 and 1.3 million, down 38% in ratings and 40% in viewership from last year (1.6, 2.2M). Coverage earlier in the day drew a 0.9 and 1.1 million, down 10% and 15%, respectively, from last year (1.0, 1.3M). Keep in mind last year’s opening day coverage both started and ended later (Noon and 7:41 PM, respectively) due to inclement weather.
Final numbers were not immediately available for NBC’s coverage of the event. This year marked the final time for the foreseeable future that NBC and ESPN will televise the U.S. Open.
(This year’s numbers from ESPN)
