Aided by a trio of stars, the Wimbledon finals scored stronger numbers on ESPN.
The Serena Williams/Garbiñe Muguruza Wimbledon women’s final earned a 2.2 overnight rating on ESPN Saturday morning, up 83% from the comparable time period last year, which featured the Petra Kvitova/Eugenie Bouchard final (1.2). The last time Williams played in the women’s final, a three-setter against Agnieszka Radwanska in 2012, the match had a 2.5 overnight.
The full six-hour telecast window, which included re-aired men’s semifinal coverage, had a 1.3 overnight — up 86% from last year (0.7) and up 18% from 2013 (1.1). It was down 35% from Williams’ last appearance in 2012 (2.0).
Sunday’s Novak Djokovic/Roger Federer men’s final drew a 2.4 overnight, up 9% from the comparable time period last year, which featured the same matchup (2.2). The full telecast window, which included a re-air of the women’s final, drew a 1.9 overnight — even with last year and down a tick from 2013, when Djokovic faced Andy Murray (2.0).
(Wknd. numbers from ESPN, Sports Business Daily)
