First, the results of last week’s predictions.
- NBA on ABC, Celtics/Lakers. Prediction: 10.0. Final rating: 10.2. The 10.2 for Game 5 of the NBA Finals was up 16% over the 8.8 average for the first four games. The game finished with 17.4 million viewers, the most for any NBA Finals game since Pistons/Spurs Game 7 in ’05. The 10.2 rating was also 36% higher than the 7.5 for the competing final round of the U.S. Open.
- U.S. Open on NBC, Final round. Prediction: 7.9. Final rating: 7.5. Despite airing into prime time, final ratings for the U.S. Open could not crack the 8.0 threshold. Still, the 7.5 final rating is the third best in the past ten years. Prime time coverage (from 7:00-9:00 PM) drew a 10.0 rating on NBC, the best rating in that timeslot since the Academy Awards.
- NASCAR on TNT, LifeLock 400. Prediction: 3.7. Final rating: 3.3. NASCAR on TNT was the highest rated program on cable again, but ratings were flat and viewership was down when compared to last year — despite Dale Earnhardt Jr. winning the race.
This week’s predictions:
- Euro 2008 on ABC, Netherlands/Russia, 2:30 PM Saturday — The Euro 2008 tournament has already drawn good numbers in weekday afternoon timeslots on cable. With a Saturday afternoon showcase on broadcast, how high can the numbers go? Prediction: 1.6.
- MLB on FOX, Cardinals/Red Sox, 3:30 PM Saturday — Can this rematch of the ’04 World Series put some juice into the ratings? Last year, the comparable telecast drew a 2.8. Prediction: 2.3.
- MLB on ESPN, White Sox/Cubs, 8 PM Sunday — This Sunday Night Baseball match-up should draw huge numbers in Chicago. But will the rest of the country be as interested in this match-up as they would be in Yankees/Mets? Prediction: 2.1.
- NASCAR on TNT, Toyota/Save Mart 350, 5 PM Sunday — Expect strong ratings again for NASCAR on TNT, though do not be surprised to see the numbers down slightly from the 3.8 the same race drew last year. Prediction: 3.6.
- Gymnastics on NBC, U.S. Olympic Trials, 7 PM Sunday — In 2000, NBC drew a 7.2/13 for coverage of the U.S. gymnastics Olympic trials. In 2004, that number dropped to a 4.9/8. Look for this year’s rating to fall even further. Prediction: 3.7.
