Fox Sports’ first ever U.S. Open ended with near-record low numbers.
Final round coverage of the U.S. Open earned a 4.2 final rating and 6.7 million viewers on FOX Sunday, up 40% in ratings and 46% in viewership from last year’s record-low (3.0, 4.6M), but down 22% and 20%, respectively, from 2013 (5.4, 8.4M). Compared to previous West Coast editions of the U.S. Open, ratings and viewership declined 30% from 2012 (6.0, 9.6M) and 28% from 2010 (5.8, 9.3M).
Jordan Spieth‘s win ranks as the second-lowest rated final round of the U.S. Open and the second-least watched in the past 20 years. In both measures, only last year’s telecast put up lower numbers. Saturday’s third round had a similar performance, earning the second-lowest rating since at least 1981 and the third-smallest audience since at least 1987.
Despite the near-historic low, Sunday’s 40% increase in ratings is the largest for final round coverage since 1992 (+49%) — with the caveat that last year’s record-low and this year’s West Coast locale virtually assured a big jump.
Sunday’s primetime coverage averaged a 5.3 rating and 8.7 million viewers, peaking with 11.2 million from 10-10:30 PM ET. For FOX, it was the top Sunday in primetime since January 4 — when the network was aided by the conclusion of an NFL playoff game.
Host market Seattle was the top market Sunday night with an 11.4 rating, followed by Jacksonville (6.8), Columbus, OH (6.7), Louisville (6.6) and Las Vegas (6.5). Seattle was also the top market for Saturday’s third round (8.1), as well as for primetime coverage on Thursday (6.0) and Friday (5.4).
Overall, the complete U.S. Open averaged 3.5 million viewers on FOX and Fox Sports 1 — up 40% from last year (2.5M) but down 10% from 2013 (3.9M). Compared to previous West Coast editions, it declined 27% from 2012 (4.8M) and 19% from 2010 (4.3M), and was barely half the draw of Tiger Woods‘ last win in 2008 (6.6M).
This year’s U.S. Open ranks as the fourth-least watched since 1995, ahead of only last year, 2011 and 2006. After the opening round hit a 13-year high in viewership, none of the subsequent rounds fared nearly as well.
(Sun. numbers from Fox Sports)
