One of the marquee matchups of the college basketball season posted a solid bump on ESPN. Also, ratings for the PGA Tour, NHL and more.
KU-Baylor up on ESPN
Last Saturday’s Kansas-Baylor men’s college basketball game averaged a 1.3 rating and 1.88 million viewers on ESPN, up 30% in ratings and 29% in viewership from last year (Tennessee-LSU: 1.0, 1.45M) and up 141% and 140% respectively from 2018 (Michigan-Maryland: 0.5, 782K).
The Jayhawks’ win ranks second among Noon ET games this season, behind Michigan State-Purdue on CBS in January (1.5, 2.16M).
Elsewhere, it was a rough weekend for CBS. The network drew a 1.0 (-44%) and 1.44 million (-50%) for Maryland-Ohio State and a 0.51 (-41%) and 743,000 (-42%) for St. John’s-Seton Hall last Sunday. It also drew a 0.7 and 966,000 for Tennessee-Auburn, a 0.54 (-55%) and 780,000 (-57%) for UCLA-Colorado, and a 0.48 (-47%) and 689,000 (-49%) for Texas-Kansas State on Saturday.
Shifting to the workweek, ESPN drew a 0.6 (-43%) and 1.02 million (-38%) for Kentucky-Texas A&M and a 0.47 (-29%) and 723,000 (-31%) for NC State-North Carolina on Super Tuesday, and a 0.6 (+35%) and 935,000 (+30%) for Louisville-Florida State and a 0.56 (-32%) and 885,000 (-32%) for Oklahoma State-Kansas on Big Monday.
WGC-Mexico ratings in the rough
Final round coverage of the PGA Tour/WGC-Mexico Championship averaged a 1.8 rating and 2.79 million viewers on NBC last Sunday, marking the lowest rating and viewership for the event — previously held in Doral, Fla. — since it debuted in 2007.
Ratings and viewership fell 18% from last year, when Tiger Woods was in the field (2.2, 3.42M) and 31% and 29% respectively from 2018 (2.6, 3.93M).
Third round action declined 37% in ratings (to 1.2) and 40% in viewership (to 1.72M). Eight straight PGA Tour windows on broadcast have declined.
Lead-in coverage on Golf Channel averaged a 0.44 (-46%) and 709,000 (-43%) on Saturday and a 0.37 (-44%) and 540,000 (-44%) on Sunday.
Solid outing for Pens-Caps
Penguins-Capitals averaged a 0.8 rating and 1.19 million viewers on the NHL on NBC last Sunday, ranking third among indoor games this season behind Bruins-Penguins on January 19 and Rangers-Bruins on the day after Thanksgiving (both 0.8, 1.20M).
Ratings increased a tick and viewership 23% from Blues-Predators in 2018 (0.7, 966K). There was no comparable window last year.
Later in the day, Blues-Wild drew a 0.25 (-7%) and 449,000 (-6%) on NBCSN. The Golden Knights-Ducks nightcap had 214,000 viewers.
In other recent action, NBCSN averaged 333,000 viewers for Stars-Bruins on Thursday (-35%); a 0.25 (flat) and 394,000 (+4%) for Sabres-Avalanche and a 0.18 and 291,000 (+30%) for Penguins-Kings on Wednesday; a 0.20 and 325,000 (+25%) for Blackhawks-Blues on Tuesday; a 0.27 (-13%) and 417,000 (-17%) for Rangers-Blackhawks on February 19; and 232,000 viewers for Maple Leafs-Penguins on February 18 (-19%).
Miscellaneous: Fury-Wilder prelims, D-Wade doc, Bowling
Prelims preceding last week’s Tyson Fury—Deontay Wilder boxing match averaged 1.42 million viewers across ESPN, FS1 and Fox Deportes, marking the largest audience for boxing prelims since the Floyd Mayweather—Conor McGregor fight three years ago. … The premiere of the ESPN documentary “D Wade: Life Unexpected” averaged a 0.47 rating and 705,000 viewers last Sunday, down from the rebroadcast of the Disney movie “Miracle” that preceded it (0.50, 785K). … Airing on FOX for the first time, last Sunday’s PBA US Open averaged a 0.7 rating and 1.15 million viewers; there was no TV coverage last year.
[Nielsen estimates from Programming Insider 2.26, 2.27, 2.28, ShowBuzz Daily 2.25, 2.28]
