A successful PGA Tour season ended with another increase in viewership last weekend.
Final round coverage of The Tour Championship, the final event in the PGA Tour FedEx Cup earned 2.4 million viewers on NBC last Sunday — up 20% from last year and 2013 (2.0M) and the most-watched final round of the event since 2012 (2.8M). The rating was not immediately available.
Jordan Spieth‘s win, which clinched the FedEx Cup, was the 22nd of the past 28 final round telecasts to have an increase in ratings and/or viewership. It was also the 13th final round telecast this season to hit a multi-year high in one or both measures.
Third round coverage the previous day had 1.6 million viewers, down 24% from last year (2.1M) but on par with 2013 (1.6M). Keep in mind this year’s telecast aired in a special early window to accommodate Notre Dame football, while last year’s took place in the traditional 3 PM ET timeslot.
Overall, NBC averaged 2.5 million viewers for its complete PGA Tour coverage this season — up 5% from last year. CBS averaged 2.7 million for its coverage, up 29%.
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily; additional info from NBC Sports, Sports Business Daily)
