Television ratings declined for all four rounds of the British Open on ESPN.
Final round coverage of the British Open earned a 2.3 U.S. rating and 3.3 million viewers on ESPN Sunday morning, down 26% in ratings and 25% in viewership from last year (3.1, 4.4M) and down 26% and 22%, respectively, from 2012 (3.1, 4.2M). The 2.3 rating is tied as the second-lowest for final round coverage since at least 1981, matching 2011 and ahead of only 2010 (2.1).
Including two hours of early morning coverage (6:00-8:00 AM), Sunday’s full telecast window drew a 1.9 and 2.7 million — down 24% and 22%, respectively, from last year (2.5, 3.5M).
All three golf majors have had double-digit declines for final round coverage this year. The final round of The Masters had a 6.8 (-28%) and 11.0 million (-25%) on CBS, tying a 34-year low in ratings. The final round of the U.S. Open had a 3.0 (-44%) and 4.6 million (-45%) on NBC, ranking as the lowest rated final round ever for the event.
Third round action on Saturday drew a 1.0 and 1.4 million viewers, but comparisons to previous years are difficult. Coverage aired earlier than originally scheduled due to weather, concluding at 11 AM ET. Last year’s third round drew a 2.7 and 3.8 million in the usual timeslot (9:00 AM-2:45 PM), and coverage in 2012 drew a 2.6 and 3.5 million.
On Friday, second round coverage drew a 1.1 and 1.4 million on ESPN — down 15% in ratings and 13% in viewership from last year (1.3, 1.7M) and down 21% and 19%, respectively, from 2012 (1.4, 1.8M). Including early morning coverage, the full telecast window drew a 0.9 (-18%) and 1.2 million (-14%).
Opening round coverage last Thursday earned a 0.9 and 1.2 million, down 18% in ratings and 17% in viewership from last year (1.1, 1.4M) and down 18% and 14%, respectively, from 2012 (1.1, 1.3M). The full telecast had a 0.8 (-11%) and 997,000 (-17%).
