After a reprieve at the Hartford Open, the PGA Tour’s slump resumed in a big way last weekend.
Final round coverage of the PGA Tour’s The National earned a 1.2 final rating and 1.9 million viewers on CBS last Sunday, down a third in ratings and 30% in viewership from last year (1.8, 2.7M) and down 43% and 40% respectively from 2015 (2.1, 3.1M).
It was the lowest rated final round in the ten year history of the event, falling below the previous mark of 1.3 in 2013. It was also the least-watched final round since ’13 (1.89M to 1.88M).
Excluding rainouts, it was also the lowest rated and least-watched final round window on broadcast this season.
Sunday’s results continued a season-long slump for the PGA Tour. Of the 21 final round windows on broadcast this season, 17 have declined in ratings and 18 have done so in viewership. Keep in mind that excludes Houston (tape-delayed) and New Orleans (rain delayed).
Third round action last Saturday had a 0.7 rating (-42%) and 1.1 million viewers (-37%) to rank as the tournament’s lowest rated round on a broadcast network.
Lead-in coverage on Golf Channel scored a 0.30 (-27%) and 421,000 (-24%) on Saturday and a 0.32 (-30%) and 477,000 (-27%) on Sunday.
[Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 7.6]
