- TBS averaged a 2.8 national rating (3.2 cable rating) and 4.3 million viewers for its coverage of the 2008 MLB Division Series, down 26% and 25% from a 3.8 and 5.7 million last year. The 4.3 million viewers also marks a 10% decline from the 4.8 million FOX, ESPN and ESPN2 averaged for coverage of the 2006 Division Series. To put that in perspective, TNT averaged 3.8 million viewers for its coverage of the 2008 NBA Playoffs and 5.7 million viewers for its coverage of NASCAR over the summer.
- CBS took the top spot among NFL rightsholders during Week 5. Bengals/Cowboys drew a 12.6/24 final rating and 20 million viewers on CBS Sunday evening, up 33% in ratings from a 9.5 for Chargers/Broncos in ’07. Meanwhile, NBC drew an 8.8/14 final rating for Steelers/Jaguars on Sunday night, down 21% from an 11.2 for Bears/Packers last year. On Monday night, ESPN drew a 7.1/12 national rating for Vikings/Saints, down 16% from an 8.5 for last year’s memorable Cowboys/Bills tilt.
- The Amp Energy 500 at Talladega drew a 4.6 final rating and 7.4 million viewers on ABC Sunday, tying last year’s race at Talladega as the network’s highest rated NASCAR telecast. The 4.6 was the highest rating of the weekend for a non-NFL sporting event, surpassing the baseball playoffs on TBS and college football. Through four telecasts, ABC is averaging a 3.8 rating for NASCAR races, up 6% from a 3.6 through the comparable date in ’07.
NFL records its highest regular season average since 1989
The usual methodological caveats abound, but the NFL officially recorded its highest regular season audience in more than three...
