Ratings roundup — Spain-Netherlands scored for both FOX and Telemundo; NFL Network and “Hard Knocks” posted gains for their preseason debuts; NASCAR Michigan viewership pulled nearly even with last year despite a washout; and more.
Spain-Netherlands scores for FOX, Telemundo
Thursday’s Spain-Netherlands FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinal averaged a 0.9 rating and 1.78 million viewers on FOX, trailing only Germany-Sweden in 2019 (1.88M) as the most-watched quarterfinal on record that did not involve the United States. The Thursday night timeslot was originally set aside for the USWNT, but the team failed to win its group (and then fell short of the quarterfinals entirely).
Spain’s win delivered the fourth-largest audience of the tournament, trailing the two primetime USWNT group stage matches and Sweden-USWNT in the round of 16.
Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo and Universo delivered a 0.47 and 815,000, with that figure rising to 968,000 including additional streaming data not tracked by Nielsen — a record for a quarterfinal match on Spanish-language television.
Milwaukee led all markets for the FOX telecast with a 2.0 rating and 6 share, followed by Washington D.C. (1.9/7), Texas markets Dallas-Ft. Worth (1.8/6) and Austin (1.6/6) and Memphis (1.6/4).
NFL Network, “Hard Knocks,” see gains for preseason debuts
Thursday’s Texans-Patriots NFL preseason game averaged a 0.9 rating and 1.68 million viewers on NFL Network, flat in ratings and up 12% in viewership from its preseason opener last year (Giants-Patriots: 1.51M). Figures for the Vikings-Seahawks nightcap were not immediately available.
In other preseason action, the season premiere of “Hard Knocks” featuring the New York Jets averaged a 0.16 and 274,000 on HBO Tuesday night — a 39 percent jump in viewership over last year’s season debut featuring the Detroit Lions (197K).
NASCAR Michigan washout holds up
Abbreviated NASCAR Cup Series racing from Michigan averaged a 1.5 rating and 2.61 million viewers on USA Network last Sunday, flat in ratings and down just 1% in viewership from last year, when the race was run in full (1.5, 2.62M). Figures for Monday’s conclusion were not immediately available.
Earlier in the day, IndyCar racing from Nashville averaged a 0.7 and 1.11 million on NBC — down from the inaugural race two years ago, the last time it was run as scheduled. Last year’s edition was delayed due to rain and aired primarily on CNBC.
Plus: MLB, PGA Tour, gymnastics
- The latest edition of ESPN Sunday Night Baseball (Dodgers-Padres) averaged a combined 0.9 rating and 1.60 million viewers across ESPN (0.8, 1.40M), ESPN2 (0.1, 136K) and ESPN Deportes (0.0, 68K), down from the same matchup on ESPN alone last year (1.69M). The same matchup the previous night averaged a 0.34 and season-high 653,000 on FS1. Shifting to the workweek, the Astros’ comeback over the Orioles Tuesday night averaged a 0.22 and 340,000 on TBS — down from Braves-Red Sox a year ago (418K).
- Final round coverage of last weekend’s PGA Tour Wyndham Championship averaged a 1.1 rating and 1.67 million viewers on CBS, marking the tournament’s smallest final round audience since 2016 (1.40M). Ratings fell a tick and viewership 11% from last year (1.2, 1.88M). Third round action posted an uptick with a 0.9 (+12%) and 1.34 million (+11%).
- Simone Biles’ return to gymnastics at the U.S. Classic averaged a 0.18 rating and 318,000 viewers on CNBC last Saturday night, down from the last time Biles competed in the event in 2021 — an Olympic year (~335K on NBCSN). Encore coverage on NBC averaged a 0.6 and 1.1 million on Sunday.
For more sports TV ratings, see the weekly chart.
(Additional Nielsen estimates from Programming Insider 8.9, 8.11)
