CBS Ends U.S. Open Run With Lowest TV Ratings in Years

The final U.S. Open matches on CBS hit multi-year lows in ratings and viewership.

Last Sunday’s Serena Williams/Caroline Wozniacki U.S. Open women’s final drew a 2.9 final rating and 4.5 million viewers on CBS, down 28% in ratings and 27% in viewership from Williams/Victoria Azarenka last year (4.0, 6.2M) and down 15% and 13%, respectively, from Williams/Azarenka in 2012 (3.4, 5.2M).

The 2.9 rating is the lowest ever for a U.S. Open women’s final featuring Serena or Venus Williams (ten telecasts), falling below the previous mark of 3.3 set in 1997, 2008 and 2011.

Overall, the match was the lowest rated and least-viewed women’s final since 2010.

The Marin Čilić/Kei Nishikori men’s final drew a 1.6 and 2.2 million on Monday, down 33% in ratings and 35% in viewership from Rafael Nadal/Novak Djokovic last year (2.4, 3.4M) and down 33% and 39%, respectively, from Andy Murray/Djokovic in 2012 (2.4, 3.6M).

The 1.6 rating is the lowest ever for coverage of the men’s final on CBS, trailing the previous low of 1.7 for Roger Federer‘s 2008 win over Murray. The past seven finals, each of which aired on a Monday afternoon, rank as the seven lowest rated of all-time.

TV Ratings For U.S. Open Singles Finals, Past Decade

* 2010 men’s final concluded on ESPN2, earning a 1.2 U.S. rating and 1.85 million viewers
** 2009 women’s final aired entirely on ESPN2

(Wknd. numbers from Sports Business Daily)