First, the results of last week’s predictions:
- Summer Olympics on NBC, Closing Ceremonies. Prediction: 14.0. Final rating: 15.5. The 15.5 rating for the Closing Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics was up 30% from an 11.9 in 2004 and up a whopping 44% from a 10.8 in 2000. The 15.5 rating is the best for the Closing Ceremony of a non-U.S. Summer Olympics since 1976.
- NASCAR on ESPN, Sharpie 500. Prediction: 3.2. Final rating: 3.0. Opposite the Olympics, ratings for the Sharpie 500 dropped 14% from last year. Through five races, NASCAR on ESPN is averaging a 3.5 rating and 5.6 million viewers, down 8% and 6% from a 3.8 with 6 million through the comparable date last year.
Ratings for USA/Spain on NBC, MLB on FOX and LLWS on ABC unavailable.
This week’s predictions.
- College football on ABC, Clemson/Alabama, 8 PM Saturday — Saturday Night Football kicks off its third season with a well-hyped neutral site match-up. With Alabama and high-profile coach Nick Saban taking on #9 Clemson, look for a decent increase over the 3.3 Tennessee/Cal drew in ’07. Prediction: 3.9.
- College football on ESPN, Tennessee/UCLA, 8 PM Monday — In years past, ESPN has drawn strong numbers for Labor Day college football games. Last year’s FSU/Clemson game was the highest rated of the regular season on cable, drawing a 4.3. A year earlier, FSU/Miami drew a 5.7. Expect strong numbers for Tennessee/UCLA, though not quite as strong. Prediction: 3.8.
- U.S. Open on CBS, early round coverage, 11 AM Saturday, Sunday and Monday — With stars Venus and Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer still playing, look for CBS to see solid numbers over the weekend. Prediction: 1.3, 1.7 and 1.6.
- PGA on NBC, Deutsche Bank Championship, Final round, 3 PM Monday — Ratings for PGA Tour events have been plummeting since Tiger Woods‘ injury. With that in mind, expect final round ratings for the Deutsche Bank Championship to finish a far cry from a 3.4 last year or a 3.9 a year before. Prediction: 2.2.
- NASCAR on ESPN, Pepsi 500, 8 PM Sunday — Sunday marks the last NASCAR race of the season on cable. After three weeks of going up against the Olympics, expect NASCAR on ESPN to rebound with a strong rating for the Pepsi 500. Prediction: 3.9.
- AVP Crocs Tour on NBC, Crocs Cup Shootout, women’s championship, 1:30 PM Sunday — For the first time since the Olympics, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh play on the AVP Tour. Will NBC and the AVP be able to capitalize on two weeks of featuring the duo in prime time? Prediction: 1.3.
- WNBA on ABC, Storm/Sun, 1 PM Sunday — The WNBA makes its return to national television after over a month-long absence. Unlike the AVP, the WNBA does not have much momentum from the Olympics; the women’s basketball tournament received sparse attention. Prediction: 0.6.
