Overnight ratings increased for the first weekend of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Also: Belmont Stakes overnights were on the low side, and the PGA Tour Canadian Open hit a four-year high.
Overnights up for first weekend of Women’s World Cup
Sunday’s England-Scotland FIFA Women’s World Cup match had a 1.2 overnight rating on FOX, up 50% from Norway-Thailand in a similar window two years ago (0.8). Figures include pre-match coverage.
On Saturday, FOX earned a 1.0 for both Norway-Nigeria and Spain-South Africa. There were no comparable telecasts in 2015, but both matches edged the average for non-U.S. group stage matches four years ago (0.9).
Through Sunday, Women’s World Cup ratings have increased 10% in the metered markets, though the rating itself was not available.
Belmont overnights low, but up from last non-Triple Crown edition
Saturday’s race portion of The Belmont Stakes earned a 3.6 overnight rating on NBC, up 6% from 2017 (3.4), but down 16% from 2016 (4.3), the last two times a Triple Crown was not at stake. Compared to last year, when Justify won the Triple Crown, overnights fell 56% from an 8.1.
Sir Winston‘s win, which peaked at a 4.2 during the quarter-hour encompassing the race (6:30-6:45 PM ET), posted the second-lowest Belmont overnight since 2010 on ABC (3.1). The 3.6 is also the second-lowest Triple Crown overnight ever on NBC (52 telecasts dating back to 2001).
Ft. Myers, Fla., led all markets with a 7.6 rating (+9%), followed by Louisville (7.3, -6%), Buffalo (7.0), Raleigh-Durham (6.0, +13%) and Orlando (6.0, +3%). Host market New York City tied for ninth at a 5.1 (+11%). All comparisons are to 2017.
Compared to last year, ratings fell 50% in Ft. Myers (vs. 15.2), 62% in Louisville (vs. 19.0), 50% in New York (vs. 10.3) and 46% in Orlando (vs. 11.2).
Overnights hit four-year high for PGA Tour Canadian Open
Sunday’s final round of the PGA Tour Canadian Open earned a 2.0 overnight rating on CBS, up 18% from both last year and 2017 (1.8), when the event took place in late July. Rory McIlroy’s dominating win posted the highest overnight for the event since the 2015 final round (2.1).
Third round coverage the previous day had a 1.2, down a tick from last year (1.3), but up 9% from 2017 (1.1).
[Numbers from Fox Sports PR 6.10, Sports Business Daily 6.10]
