Ratings: Peyton’s Places, iRacing, Encores

Leading into the premiere of the ESPN 30 For 30 “The Last Dance” last Sunday, an episode of Peyton’s Places averaged 1.30 million viewers on ESPN — the largest linear TV audience yet for the ESPN+ series. Outside of “The Last Dance” itself, it was the most-watched ESPN program since the majority of sporting events were called off on March 11-12.

“The Last Dance” also benefited ESPN’s lead-out program, SportsCenter, which averaged 1.44 million — its top audience since March 11.

Last Sunday’s NASCAR iRacing simulation averaged a 0.6 rating and 971,000 viewers across FOX and FS1, down a tick in ratings and 18% in viewership from the previous event two weeks earlier (0.7, 1.17M). It was the lowest rated and least-watched of the three iRacing events to air on both FOX and FS1.

Per Sports Business Journal writer Adam Stern, last Saturday’s IndyCar iRacing simulation averaged 120,000 on NBCSN.

A re-air of the 2019 Patriots-Chiefs AFC Championship game led last weekend’s sports encores with a 0.8 rating and 1.06 million viewers on CBS, marking the highest rated and most-watched NFL rebroadcast during sports’ pandemic hiatus. The following day’s re-air of Super Bowl 33 between the Broncos and Falcons was far less of a draw, averaging a 0.37 and 542,000 on FOX.

Airing immediately afterward, a re-air of the 2016 PGA Tour Heritage final round averaged a 0.54 and 774,000, ranking second among the encores.

Elsewhere, ESPN last Saturday night scored a 0.43 and 699,000 for Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier III (“The Thrilla in Manilla”), a 0.42 and 641,000 for Ali-Frazier I and a 0.38 and 607,000 for Ali-Frazier II. The three decades-old bouts were not far off ESPN’s most recent Top Rank Boxing Card on January 18 (0.46, 704K).

ABC topped out at a 0.53 and 711,000 for the ESPN 30 For 30 “Four Falls of Buffalo” last Saturday afternoon. NBC’s top draw was Game 6 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final (Lightning-Blackhawks), which had a 0.32 and 472,000.