In a battle of three of the biggest superstars in sports, it was the preeminent athlete of this generation who ended up on top.
Tiger Woods‘ dominant victory in the Buick Invitational was the highest rated sporting event of the weekend, with a 4.6/9 overnight on CBS. The 4.6 marks a substantial 18% decline from last year, when the final round of the Buick Invitational drew a 5.6 overnight, and is off 22% from 2005.
Woods’ victory finished comfortably ahead of the clash between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James on ABC, though the latter did very well. Cavaliers/Lakers put up Yankees/Red Sox type numbers, drawing a 3.4 overnight — the highest overnight for a non-Christmas regular season NBA game in the past two seasons. The 3.4 marks a 3% increase over the comparable Spurs/Lakers broadcast last year.
The early ABC game was hampered by the injury to Celtics’ star Kevin Garnett. Celtics/Magic drew a 2.3 overnight on ABC, down 12% from a Suns/Cavaliers game last year.
Buick Invitational Final Round overnights since 2005.
4.6: Sun., 1/27/08, 3 PM CBS
5.6: Sun., 1/28/07, 3 PM CBS
5.9: Sun., 1/29/06, 3 PM CBS
Highest regular season NBA overnights since 2005.
(excluding Christmas Day games)
3.5: Lakers/Cavaliers (2/13/05, 3:30 PM ABC)
3.4: Cavaliers/Lakers (1/27/08, 3:30 PM ABC)
3.3: Spurs/Lakers (1/28/07, 3:30 PM ABC)
3.1: Lakers/Cavaliers (2/11/07, 3:30 PM ABC)
3.1: Pistons/Heat (2/12/06, 3:30 PM ABC)
