Last week’s college football action on FOX was up big from last year, but down big from 2013. In other news, a high-profile NBA doubleheader delivered big increases for ESPN, and NBC’s last Formula 1 race of the season also saw an increase.
USC/Cal Up 50% From Last Year, Down 50% from 2013
- Last Saturday’s USC/California college football game had a 1.2 final rating and 1.9 million viewers on FOX, up 50% in ratings and 58% in viewership from Texas Tech/TCU last year (0.8, 1.2M) but down 50% and 51%, respectively, from Texas Tech/Oklahoma in 2013, which was delayed due to rain and concluded on Fox News Channel (2.4, 3.8M). (via Sports Business Daily)
Big Increases For NBA Wednesday on ESPN
- Wednesday’s Clippers/Warriors NBA regular season game had 2.9 million viewers on ESPN, up 73% from the same matchup last year (1.7M) and up 33% from Mavericks/Thunder in 2013 (2.1M). Knicks/Cavaliers drew 2.3 million earlier in the night, up 68% from Pacers/Wizards last year (1.4M) and up 17% from Bulls/Pacers in 2013 (2.0M). The following night, TNT drew 1.6 million for Thunder/Bulls and 1.1 million for Grizzlies/Blazers — up 9% and down 17%, respectively, from last year’s doubleheader of Spurs/Rockets (1.5M) and Mavericks/Blazers (1.4M). (via ShowBuzz Daily [1], [2])
Modest Bump For NBC’s Final F1 Race of Season
- Formula 1 racing from Mexico drew a 0.5 final rating and 722,000 viewers on NBC last Sunday afternoon, flat in ratings and up 15% in viewership from the network’s final F1 telecast last season — tape delayed coverage from Brazil (0.5, 630K). The race ranks as the second-least watched F1 telecast on the NBC broadcast network (12 telecasts dating back to 2013). (via Sports Business Daily)
