A 41-7 halftime score did not dampen the ratings for Saturday’s Kentucky/UCLA college basketball game. In other news, ESPN had mixed numbers for a Friday NBA doubleheader, and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating ended with a slight drop on NBC.
Kentucky/UCLA Blowout Up Big on CBS
- The Kentucky/UCLA CBS Sports Classic college basketball game, an 83-44 rout in favor of the Wildcats, drew a 1.5 overnight rating on CBS Saturday afternoon — up 50% from Michigan State/Texas in a similar timeslot last year (1.0). Unlike last year, this year’s game had a lead-in from other college hoops action. North Carolina/Ohio State drew a 1.4 overnight earlier in the day. (via Sports Business Daily)
3OT Blazers/Spurs Game Down Slightly on ESPN
- Friday’s Blazers/Spurs NBA regular season game, won by Portland in triple-overtime, drew 1.6 million viewers on ESPN — down 6% from Rockets/Pacers last year (1.7M). Abbreviated coverage of Thunder/Lakers later in the night drew 1.9 million, up 35% from last year’s Wolves/Lakers game (1.4M) and just the fifth non-Cavaliers game to have an increase. (via TV By the Numbers)
Downtick For Delayed ISU GP Final
- NBC earned a 0.9 overnight for Sunday’s tape-delayed coverage of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating final, down a tick from last year (1.0) but up 29% from 2012 (0.7). The Grand Prix Final took place a full week earlier than NBC’s telecast window. (via Sports Business Daily)
