Recent sports TV ratings notes, including a steep decline for college and pro football on ESPN, and solid numbers for TNT’s first NBA doubleheader of the season.
- Double-Digit Drop For MAACO Bowl Las Vegas: Last Thursday’s Arizona/#7 Boise State MAACO Bowl Las Vegas earned a 2.1 U.S. rating and 3.137 million viewers on ESPN, down 36% in ratings and 42% in viewership from last year (BOISE/UTAH: 3.3, 5.360M), and down 5% and 11%, respectively, from 2009 (BYU/ORSU: 2.2, 3.540M). (Idaho Statesman)
- NBA Continues Strong Start on TNT: Tuesday’s Celtics/Heat NBA regular season game earned a 3.2 overnight rating on TNT, while the Jazz/Lakers game that followed drew a 2.5. There were no comparable Tuesday night games last year. (Turner Sports)
- Monday Night Football Bows Out With Decline: The Week 16 edition of Monday Night Football, pitting the Falcons against the Saints, earned a 9.5 overnight rating on ESPN — down 21% from the same matchup in Week 16 last year (NO/ATL: 12.1), and down 13% from Week 16 in 2009 (MIN/CHI: 10.9). (USA Today)
