The NHL hit a primetime broadcast TV low on ABC last weekend. Plus: a multi-year high for UConn’s closer-than-expected game against UCF; recent NBA numbers; and more.
NHL struggles in primetime on ABC
Rangers-Lightning averaged a 0.48 rating and 876,000 viewers on a primetime edition of ABC Hockey Saturday last weekend, marking the lowest rated and least-watched NHL game ever on primetime broadcast television. The previous lows were a 0.6 and 1.00 million for a Kings-Avalanche outdoor game on NBC two years ago.
Three straight ABC games have averaged fewer than one million viewers. Dating back to last season on NBC, 12 of the last 16 regular season games on broadcast have failed to crack the million mark.
In other action, TNT drew a 0.29 and 447,000 for Penguins-Sabres on Wednesday, about even with the same matchup on NBCSN last year (0.27, 449K, pending revision). The Blackhawks-Ducks nightcap drew 201,000 (+16%, pending revision). TNT also drew a 0.15 (+15%) and 248,000 (-2%, pending revision) for Islanders-Flyers last Sunday.
Rounding out the recent action, ESPN drew a season-low 0.14 and 295,000 for Stars-Hurricanes on Thursday.
UConn scare hits early round high
Last Monday’s UConn-UCF second round NCAA women’s basketball tournament game averaged a 0.7 rating and 1.14 million viewers on ESPN, marking the largest audience for an early round women’s game since 2009. Creighton’s upset of Iowa averaged a 0.6 and 993,000 on ABC the previous day, ranking second for this year’s tournament. The full second round of the tournament averaged 474,000 viewers, up 25% from last year.
In first round action, UConn-Mercer averaged a 0.47 and 767,000 on ABC last Saturday — surpassing Tennessee-Middle Tennessee on the same network last year (633K) as the most-watched opening round window since at least 2010.
Big jump for Wednesday NBA
ESPN averaged 1.52 million viewers for Sixers-Lakers and 1.40 million for Nets-Grizzlies on the latest edition of NBA Wednesday, up as much as 32 and 51 percent respectively from last year’s equivalent doubleheader (Clippers-Mavericks: 1.15M; Bucks-Sixers: 931K, pending revision).
The previous night, TNT drew 1.01 million for Hawks-Knicks and 979,000 for Clippers-Nuggets, down slightly from last year (Jazz-Celtics: 1.03M; Pelicans-Blazers: 983K, pending revision).
PGA Tampa Bay ratings highest since Tiger’s near-miss
Last Sunday’s final round of the PGA Tour at Tampa Bay averaged a 1.5 rating and 2.45 million viewers on NBC, the largest audience for the tournament since Tiger Woods’ near-win in 2018 (6.91M). Ratings increased 6% and viewership as much as 12% from last year (1.4, 2.20M, pending revision). Third round coverage the previous day earned a 1.0 (+9%) and 1.63 million (+22%, pending revision).
[Nielsen estimates from Programming Insider, ShowBuzz Daily, network PR]
