Competing in the event for the first time since the 2016 Olympics, Simone Biles lifted the US Gymnastics Championship to an 11-year high.
The women’s final of the US Gymnastics Championship earned a 1.9 rating and 3.08 million viewers on NBC Sunday night, up a tick in ratings and 6% in viewership from last year (1.8, 2.88M). Compared to 2016, an Olympic year, ratings and viewership fell 41% and 43% respectively from a 3.2 and 5.4 million.
Biles’ victory delivered the largest audience for the event — excluding Olympic years — since 2007 (3.95M). The previous high was set last year. Keep in mind that prior to 2016, the women’s final took place on a Saturday night.
For the weekend, Sunday’s telecast ranked as the highest rated and most-watched sporting event on any network — a rarity for gymnastics in a non-Olympic year. It also took top honors in adults 18-49 (0.6).
In other action, the men’s final had a 0.6 and 894,000 Saturday afternoon — up a tick and 18% respectively from last year (0.5, 755K).
One could be forgiven for expecting a decline given the state of scandal-marred USA Gymnastics. Per a recent report, U.S. gymnastics participation declined 11% from 2016 to 2017, compared to an average of 2% in the three prior years. Earlier this year, the American Cup posted its lowest rating in at least a decade and its smallest audience since at least 2009. Biles did not participate in that event.
[Numbers from NBC Sports, Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 8.21]
