For the third straight week, overnight ratings sank by double-digits for the PGA Tour.
Final round coverage of the PGA Tour/WGC Bridgestone Invitational earned a 2.1 overnight rating on CBS Sunday afternoon, down 22% from last year (2.7) and down 30% from 2014 (3.0). This year’s tournament moved up several weeks to accommodate golf’s return to the Olympics. Compared to last year’s Greenbrier Classic on the same July 4 weekend, overnights were still down 16% from a 2.5.
The 2.1 overnight is the lowest for final round coverage of the Bridgestone Invitational since it aired opposite the Olympics in 2012 (1.6) and the second-lowest since at least 1998.
Excluding rainouts, overnight ratings have now declined for 18 of the past 27 PGA Tour windows on broadcast television and nine of the past 13 final round telecasts.
On Saturday, third round action had a 1.4 overnight — down 26% from last year and 2014 (1.9 both years). The 1.4 is the lowest for third round coverage of the event since 2012 (1.1).
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily)
