Overnight ratings hit a five-year high for the Heisman Trophy Presentation and a 20-year high for the MLS Cup. Also, ESPN scored an uptick for Top Rank Boxing.
Heisman Overnight Ratings Best Since ’13
Saturday’s Heisman Trophy Presentation, in which Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray won the award over Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa, delivered a 2.1 overnight rating on ESPN — up 40% from last year (1.5), up 24% from 2016 (1.7), and the highest in five years (2013: 2.7). The 2.1 ranks sixth out of the last ten Heisman ceremonies.
Birmingham led all markets for the event with a 16.8 rating, followed by Oklahoma markets Oklahoma City (13.4) and Tulsa (11.5). Columbus, Ohio, ranked fourth at an 8.5. Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins finished third in the voting. [ESPN PR/Twitter 12.9]
MLS Cup Overnight Ratings Best Since ’98
The Atlanta-Portland MLS Cup delivered a 1.2 overnight rating on FOX Saturday night, up 71% from last year on ESPN (Toronto-Seattle: 0.7) and up 20% from 2016 on FOX (Seattle-Toronto: 1.0). The 1.2 is the highest for the MLS Cup since 1998.
Atlanta led all markets Saturday night with an 11.5 rating, followed by Portland at a 7.3. Milwaukee was the top neutral market at a 2.2, with West Palm Beach (1.9) and Austin, Tex. (1.5) rounding out the top five. [Fox Sports PR]
Top Rank Nears 2018 High
Airing immediately after the Heisman Trophy Presentation, ESPN’s Top Rank Boxing delivered a 1.4 overnight rating — up a tick from last year (1.3) and the second-highest boxing overnight of 2018. ESPN drew a 1.6 for an October Top Rank card that aired after an Alabama football game. [ESPN PR 12.9]
