Ratings roundup — the presence of the Kentucky Derby winner could not save Preakness viewership; NHL conference final viewership remains mostly down; WNBA opening weekend viewership nearly tripled; NASCAR’s return to North Wilkesboro failed to move the needle.
Preakness down despite presence of Derby winner
Saturday’s race portion of The Preakness Stakes averaged a 2.8 rating and 5.02 million viewers on NBC, down 5% in both measures from last year (2.9, 5.26M) and the least-watched edition of the race since NBC acquired rights, excluding the months-delayed October edition three years ago.
The previous NBC-era lows were 5.26 million last year and 5.41 million in 2019, the only two years since 1996 in which the Kentucky Derby winner skipped the race. This year’s race featured Derby winner Mage, leaving no obvious explanation for the low number.
The Preakness still delivered the largest audience of the weekend for a non-NBA sporting event, comfortably outdrawing the final round of the PGA Championship on CBS the following day (2.6, 4.52M). Keep in mind that it is easier to sustain an audience over the course of an hour (the general run-time of the “race segment”) than five.
Stanley Cup conference final viewership mostly down
Sunday’s Stars-Golden Knights NHL Western Conference Finals Game 2 averaged a 0.9 rating and 1.62 million viewers on ABC, up 17% in ratings and 10% in viewership from Oilers-Avalanche on TNT last year (0.75, 1.47M) and the only game of the conference final to increase over last year.
Compared to the same Sunday afternoon window on ESPN last year, ratings fell 6% and viewership 18% from a 0.9 and 1.96 million for Rangers-Lightning Game 3.
Shifting to the East, Panthers-Hurricanes averaged a 0.85 and 1.64 million in Saturday’s Game 2 before dropping down to a 0.8 and 1.54 million for Game 3 on Monday, both down double-digits from the equivalent games of Lightning-Rangers last year (1.1, 2.32M; 0.9, 1.96M).
WNBA opening weekend viewership up big
Opening weekend of the WNBA season averaged 589,000 viewers across ABC and ESPN (four games), nearly tripling last year, when the opening weekend slate consisted of three games across ESPN and ESPN2.
The most-watched opening weekend game was Aces-Storm on ABC Saturday, which at a 0.41 rating and 684,000 viewers posted the largest opening weekend audience since 2012 (Mercury-Lynx: 804K). Las Vegas’ blowout win edged the previous night’s Mercury-Sparks game on ESPN, Brittney Griner’s first game back after missing last season detained in Russia (0.38, 683K).
The Dream-Wings lead-in averaged a 0.36 and 593,000. Rounding out the opening weekend slate, Sky-Mercury on Sunday — Griner’s home opener — averaged a 0.25 and 439,000 on ESPN.
NASCAR All-Star Race down despite return to North Wilkesboro
Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race from North Wilkesboro (N.C.) — the first Cup Series event at the track since 1996 — averaged a 1.3 rating and 2.20 million viewers on FS1, marking the smallest audience for the race since the midsummer version three years ago (2.08M). Ratings fell a tick and viewership 11% from last year’s All-Star Race from Texas (1.4, 2.48M).
The All-Star Race averaged fewer viewers than any Cup Series points race this season and snapped a streak of five-straight gains since Chase Elliott’s return from injury.
(Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 5.23, Programming Insider 5.23)
