The foray of U.S. Open golf coverage into prime time helped NBC win Saturday night in total viewers.
Third round coverage at the U.S. Open averaged a 5.3 overnight rating from 4:00-10:30 PM Saturday, up 15% from a 4.6 last year, and the best overnight for third round coverage since 2002.
From 8:00-10:30 PM, U.S. Open coverage drew a 5.9 overnight, with that number peaking at 6.3 during the 10:00 PM half hour. Prime time coverage averaged 6.6 million viewers, according to preliminary numbers, helping NBC win the night overall. Viewership peaked at 9:30 and 10:00 PM, with NBC averaging 7 million viewers in both half-hours.
Among adults 18-49, NBC finished second for the night, behind FOX. U.S. Open coverage averaged a 1.5/6 in the demo, and peaked at 1.7/6 at 10:00 PM. America’s Most Wanted was the night’s highest rated program in the demographic, averaging a 1.8/7.
