The World Baseball Classic continues to deliver in the ratings for FOX and FS1. Plus: F1 and NASCAR went in opposite directions; the PGA Tour hit a multi-year high on another quiet weekend for LIV Golf; and more.
World Baseball Classic hits highs on FOX, FS1, over weekend
Saturday’s primetime United States-Venezuela World Baseball Classic quarterfinal averaged a 1.1 rating and 2.26 million viewers on FOX, marking the largest single-network audience for the tournament — excluding the final — since the U.S.-Japan semifinal on ESPN in 2009 (2.78M). Spanish-language coverage on Fox Deportes chipped in 257,000. There was no quarterfinal round in the previous WBC six years ago.
The U.S.-Cuba semifinal Sunday night scored a 1.0 and 1.95 million on FS1, making it the most-watched semifinal on a single network since that aforementioned 2009 matchup. Fox Deportes added 301,000.
Monday’s Japan-Mexico semifinal actually averaged more viewers overall, scoring 2.54 million across FS1 (1.88M) and Fox Deportes (664K). By comparison, the non-U.S. semifinal in 2017 — Puerto Rico-Netherlands — averaged 651,000 on MLB Network.
F1 Saudi GP nears cable record; NASCAR down again at Atlanta
Sunday’s Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix averaged a 0.7 rating and 1.52 million viewers on ESPN, marking the second-largest F1 audience ever on cable and seventh-largest overall. Sergio Perez’ win, which peaked with 1.75 million viewers, increased 5% from last year (1.45M).
Notably, the race delivered the largest audience of the entire weekend on the ESPN networks and outdrew NASCAR’s same-day Cup Series race on FOX in adults 18-49 (0.52 to 0.46) and 18-34 (0.46 to 0.21).
As for NASCAR, the Cup Series race from Atlanta averaged a 1.95 and 3.42 million — down 17% in ratings and 15% in viewership from last year (2.4, 4.00M). All five Cup Series races this season and the preseason “Clash” at the Los Angeles Coliseum have posted a year-over-year decline, with the past three down double-digits.
PGA Tour hits Tampa high as LIV remains low
NBC averaged a 1.6 rating and 2.59 million viewers for Sunday’s final round of the PGA Tour Tampa Bay Championship, marking the largest audience for the event since Tiger Woods nearly won it in 2018 (6.91M). Ratings increased 9% and viewership 6% from last year (1.5, 2.45M). Third round action on Saturday drew a 1.0 (+3%) and 1.57 million (-4%).
The PGA Tour dominated its second head-to-head with LIV Golf. Per Sports Business Journal, the LIV event from Tuscon, Arizona, averaged just 284,000 on Saturday and 274,000 on Sunday on The CW. Per SBJ, nearly a quarter of TV homes were unable to watch as their local CW affiliate did not carry the event.
Plus: NHL, NCAA wrestling, NIT
Saturday’s primetime Penguins-Rangers NHL regular season game on ABC averaged a 0.52 rating and 901,000 viewers, up 8% in ratings and 3% in viewership from Rangers-Lightning in the same window last year (0.48, 876K). … The NCAA wrestling national championship averaged a 0.24 and 454,000 on ESPN Saturday night, down 25% and 28% respectively from last year (0.32, 632K). Semifinal coverage the previous night had a 0.19 (-32%) and 345,000 (-34%) and Thursday’s quarterfinals a 0.15 (-12%) and 251,000 (-8%). … ESPN averaged a 0.5 and 869,000 viewers for Michigan-Vanderbilt in the men’s NIT Saturday afternoon, up 79% and 65% respectively from Oregon-Texas A&M last year (0.28, 527K).
(Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 3.21 a; Sports Business Journal 3.21, b; network PR)
