The numbers were not up triple-digits as in the previous two weeks, when Tiger Woods was in contention, but PGA ratings increased once again last weekend.
Last Sunday’s final of the PGA-WGC Match Play Championship earned a 1.6 rating and 2.5 million viewers on NBC, up 7% in ratings and 10% in viewership from last year (1.5, 2.3M), but down 20% and 23% respectively from 2016, when coverage faced little competition (2.0, 3.2M).
Bubba Watson‘s win was the lowest rated and least-watched PGA final round on broadcast this season (nine telecasts). That is no real surprise given the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight competition.
If lower than in previous weeks, the telecast continued the PGA’s hot start to the season. Of the 18 windows on broadcast television this season, 15 have posted an increase in ratings and viewership. Even taking out the eight windows that have featured Woods, 5 of 10 have increased.
Saturday’s semifinal action had a 1.5 and 2.3 million, up 15% in ratings and 24% in viewership from last year (1.3, 1.8M) and flat and up 5% respectively from 2016 (1.5, 2.2M).
Lead-in coverage on Golf Channel delivered a 0.48 (+20%) and 696,000 (+15%) on Saturday and a 0.7 (+31%) and 1.0 million (+28%) on Sunday.
[Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 3.29]
