PGA Tour ratings dropped on CBS for a third straight weekend. Also: the latest college basketball numbers, mixed results for NASCAR’s secondary series at Daytona; a bump for Premier Boxing Champions.
Sixth-straight drop for PGA Tour on CBS
Last Sunday’s final round of the PGA Tour Los Angeles Open averaged a 2.0 rating and 3.09 million viewers on CBS, down 23% in ratings and 24% in viewership from last year (2.6, 4.06M), but flat and up 3% respectively from 2018 (2.0, 3.00M). Tiger Woods finished dead last, after tying for 15th last year and not playing at all in 2018.
Third round coverage the previous day averaged a 1.5 (-6%) and 2.13 million (-7%). CBS has now posted declines for six straight PGA Tour windows.
Lead-in coverage on Golf Channel averaged a 0.6 rating (-15%) and 923,000 (-13%) on Saturday and a 0.6 (-40%) and 935,000 (-39%) on Sunday.
Recent college hoops mostly down
Last Sunday’s Indiana-Michigan men’s college basketball game averaged a 0.9 rating and 1.40 million viewers on CBS, down 25% in ratings and 19% in viewership from last year (Ohio State-Michigan State: 1.2, 1.73M) and down 25% and 29% respectively from 2018 (Ohio State-Michigan: 1.2, 1.97M).
The previous day, the network drew a 0.6 (+8%) and 788,000 (+2%) for Texas Tech-Oklahoma State. Over on FOX, Purdue-Ohio State drew a 0.6 (-21%) and 872,000 (-20%) and Georgetown-Butler a 0.42 (-5%) and 616,000 (-5%).
On ESPN, Maryland-Michigan State drew a 0.75 (-39%) and 1.21 million (-35%) and Virginia-North Carolina a 0.7 (-59%) and 1.16 million (-61%) Saturday. Iowa State-Kansas averaged 1.04 million viewers (+24%) and North Carolina-Notre Dame 919,000 (-6%) on Big Monday; Kentucky-LSU 1.31 million (-3%) and Purdue-Wisconsin 752,000 (-15%) on Super Tuesday; and Syracuse-Louisville 656,000 (-46%) and Duke-NC State 978,000 (-77%)* on Wednesday.
Going back further, the top ten matchup between Duke and Florida State averaged a 0.9 (-14%) and 1.32 million (-22%) on February 9.
Xfinity Series opener up for first time in three years
The NASCAR Xfinity Series opener at Daytona averaged a 1.1 rating and 1.81 million viewers on FS1 Saturday, up a tick in ratings and 18% in viewership from last year (1.0, 1.53M), but down a tick and 2% respectively from 2018 (1.2, 1.85M). It was the first edition of the race to increase since 2017.
The previous night, the NASCAR Truck Series opener at Daytona averaged a 0.6 (-11%) and 1.00 million (-6%).
Latest PBC Fight Night up double-digits
The latest edition of Premier Boxing Champions on FOX averaged a 1.0 rating and 1.53 million viewers on FOX last Saturday, up a tick in ratings and 11% in viewership from last year (0.9, 1.38M) and up 25% and 35% respectively from 2018 (0.8, 1.14M). The telecast aired immediately following XFL coverage.
* Last year’s game was North Carolina-Duke (4.34M).
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 2.19 a, b; 2.20 a, b]
