Ratings and viewership were generally down for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.
Coverage of the ladies’ free skate at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships drew a 2.2 final rating and 3.3 million viewers on NBC last Saturday night, down 19% in ratings and 20% in viewership from last year (2.7, 4.2M), but flat and up less than 1% percent, respectively, from 2013 (2.2, 3.3M).
The 2.2 rating is tied as the lowest for primetime coverage of the event since NBC acquired rights, matching 2013. Ratings for the window have been flat or declined in five straight non-Olympic years.
Head-to-head, Saturday’s telecast topped the UFC on FOX in both ratings (2.2 to 1.8) and viewership (3.3M to 3.0M). The UFC won by a significant margin in each of the key adult demographics, however, more-than-doubling figure skating among adults 18-49 (1.2 to 0.5).
Earlier Saturday, coverage of the pairs’ free skate and free dance drew a 1.1 and 1.6 million — down 27% in ratings and viewership from last year (1.5, 2.2M) and down 21% and 16%, respectively, from 2013 (1.4, 1.9M). The 1.1 rating is the lowest for any telecast of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships since NBC acquired rights.
Shifting to Sunday, NBC managed to eke out an increase for coverage of the men’s free skate. The telecast window had a 1.5 and 2.2 million, up a tick in ratings and 5% in viewership from both last year and 2013 (1.4, 2.1M both years).
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily, additional info from TV Media Insights)
