The preseason debut of the NFL on FOX suffered a big drop from last year’s comparable telecast. In other news, ratings for the PGA Championship on TNT held steady compared to the last Olympic year, and Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race had a modest decline on ABC.
- Big Decline For NFL Preseason on FOX: Thursday’s Bengals/Falcons NFL preseason game drew 4.75 million viewers on FOX, down 45% from Eagles/Steelers in Week 2 of last year’s preseason (8.587M), and down 18% from Patriots/Falcons in Week 2 of the 2010 preseason (5.785M). The game was also down 45% from last year in the adults 18-49 demographic (from 3.1 to 1.7). (Thursday’s numbers from TV By the Numbers)
- TNT’s PGA Championship Coverage Even With Last Olympic Year: Four-day coverage of the 2012 PGA Championship averaged a 0.9 U.S. rating on TNT, even with coverage in 2008 — the last time the tournament had to compete with the Olympic Games. Last year’s average was not immediately available. (Turner Sports)
- Slight Decline For Nationwide Series on ABC: Last Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series Zippo 200 at the Glen drew a 1.2 final rating and 1.723 million viewers on ABC, down 8% in ratings and 10% in viewership from last year (1.3, 1.913M, ESPN), and down 8% and 9%, respectively, from 2010 (1.3, 1.887M, ESPN). This year’s race aired opposite coverage of the Olympic Games. (ESPN)
