Despite another big drop from last year, the Little League World Series again scored baseball’s largest weeknight audience of the year. In other news, the U.S. Amateur Championship had subterranean numbers on FOX, and Serena Williams and Roger Federer boosted viewership for tennis’ Cincinnati tournament.
Despite Another Big Drop, LLWS Sets New Weeknight Mark
- Thursday’s Pearland (TX)/Bonita (CA) Little League World Series game drew 2.4 million viewers on ESPN, down 37% from Chicago/Philadelphia last year (3.9M). Keep in mind last year’s numbers were inflated by greater than usual media attention. Despite the big decline, the game earned the largest audience for any weeknight baseball or softball telecast this year — exceeding the previous high set the night before by the Lewisberry (PA)/Pearland (TX) game (2.3M). (via ShowBuzz Daily)
U.S. Amateur Championship Plumbs Depths on FOX
- The final of the USGA U.S. Amateur Championship drew a mere 0.2 final rating and 338,000 viewers on FOX Sunday afternoon, down a tick in ratings and 25% in viewership from last year (0.3, 451K) and down 40% and 47%, respectively, from 2013 (0.5, 641K), both on NBC. Semifinal coverage the previous day drew a 0.2 and 250,000, down a tick in ratings and 38% in viewership from last year (0.3, 406K) and down 50% and 55%, respectively, from 2013 (0.4, 560K). Few sporting events, if any, have generated a lower rating on broadcast television. (Nielsen)
Serena, Federer, Generate Double-Digit Gains For Cincinnati Tourney
- The Serena Williams/Simona Halep Western & Southern Open women’s final earned 847,000 viewers on ESPN last Sunday, up 13% from Williams/Ana Ivanovic last year (751K) and up 23% from Victoria Azarenka/Williams on ESPN2 in 2013 (691K). Earlier in the day, the Roger Federer/Novak Djokovic men’s final drew 718,000 — up 19% from Federer/David Ferrer last year (606K) and up 28% from Rafael Nadal/John Isner in 2013 (563K). (via Awful Announcing)
