While the inaugural Camellia Bowl struggled opposite the NFL, the first Miami Beach Bowl scored an increase over last year. In other news, NBCSN earned one of the top EPL audiences ever on U.S. cable for last week’s Arsenal/Liverpool match and local ratings have soared for the NHL’s Kings and Ducks in Los Angeles.
Mixed Debuts For Camellia, Miami Beach, Bowls
- The inaugural Bowling Green/South Alabama Camellia Bowl earned a 0.7 final rating and 1.1 million viewers on ESPN last Saturday night, down 46% in ratings and viewership from the New Orleans Bowl in the same timeslot last year (1.3, 2.1M). Keep in mind the game aired directly opposite the NFL on CBS and NFL Network. The Miami Beach Bowl had a better debut on Monday afternoon, as Memphis/BYU scored 1.3 million on ESPN — up 4% from last year’s comparable St. Petersburg Bowl (1.32M to 1.27M). (via Awful Announcing, TV By the Numbers)
Arsenal/Liverpool Among Top EPL Matches on Cable
- Last Sunday’s Arsenal/Liverpool English Premier League match drew a 0.4 final rating and 827,000 viewers on NBCSN, the sixth-largest EPL audience ever on U.S. cable television. Four of the seven most-watched matches have taken place in 2014. In other action last weekend, NBCSN drew a 0.3 and 687,000 for Manchester United/Aston Villa. (via Awful Announcing)
Kings, Ducks, Local Ratings Up
- Los Angeles Kings regular season NHL games have averaged a 0.51 rating on Fox Sports West, The Los Angeles Times reported earlier this month, up 46% from last year. Ratings for the Anaheim Ducks have risen even higher on FS Prime Ticket, soaring 56% to a 0.28. By comparison, local ratings for the Lakers and Clippers have both declined by double-digits — though it should be pointed out that both of those teams have averaged substantially better numbers. (Los Angeles Times)
