With primetime exposure and a Kentucky Derby lead-in, it should be no surprise that the WGC Match Play Championship hit a multi-year high.
Quarterfinal coverage of the WGC Match Play Championship earned a 2.0 overnight rating on NBC Saturday night, up 33% from last year opposite the Olympics on CBS (1.5), up 43% from 2013 on NBC (1.4), and the highest overnight for Saturday coverage of the event since 2008 (3.2).
Overall, the 2.0 trails only 2008 as the highest for Saturday coverage since 2005 (2.2).
The 2.0 is also tied as the season’s highest overnight for Saturday golf coverage on broadcast (excluding majors), matching third round coverage of the Houston Open last month.
Keep in mind Saturday’s telecast had a direct lead-in from the Kentucky Derby, which earned its highest overnight in 23 years. On the other hand, it also faced unusually tough competition — airing opposite Game 7 of an NBA playoff series on TNT and the lead-up to the Floyd Mayweather/Manny Pacquiao boxing fight.
NBC has now aired live sports in primetime for four consecutive Saturday nights. The Match Play coverage topped NHL playoff games on NBC the previous two weeks (1.7 and 1.8) and the Premier Boxing Champions three weeks ago (1.9).
(Sat. numbers from NBC Sports)
