Ratings: UFC, NASCAR Xfinity, PBA and PBR

UFC 250 prelims averaged a 0.46 rating and 775,000 viewers on ESPN Saturday night, down a third in ratings and viewership from the previous PPV prelims last month, which marked the series’ return from hiatus (0.7, 1.15M).

Compared to the previous weekend’s Fight Night prelims on ESPN, ratings increased 18% (from 0.39) and viewership 26% (from 615K). Ratings and viewership were no match for last week’s main event on ESPN, which averaged a 0.6 and 1.02 million.

Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race from Atlanta averaged a 0.8 rating and 1.27 million viewers, marking the highest rated and most-watched Xfinity Series race since the season opener at Daytona (1.1, 1.81M). Compared to last year’s Atlanta race, which aired as scheduled in February on FS1, ratings increased a tick and viewership 18% (from 1.08M).

The race averaged a slightly larger audience than the IndyCar season opener from Texas on NBC Saturday night (1.25M).

The Professional Bowlers Association Strike Derby — the first PBA Tour event since the season was halted in March — averaged a 0.49 rating and 776,000 viewers on FOX Saturday night. Ratings fell a third and viewership 32% from the network’s previous PBA telecast in February, the US Open (0.73, 1.15M).

Despite the decline, the PBA edged the competing UFC telecast on ESPN.

The Professional Bull Riders Tour averaged a 0.52 rating and 775,000 viewers on CBS Sunday, up 13% in ratings and 8% in viewership from the network’s previous PBR window last month (0.46, 718K), though still down 21% in both measures from its last pre-pandemic telecast in March (0.66, 981K).

The PBR averaged a lower rating and fewer viewers than its lead-out, an encore of the 2012 PGA Tour Memorial tournament (0.57, 825K).