Overnight ratings dropped for coverage of the PGA Tour over the weekend. In other news, FOX finished its primetime baseball package with an increase (over afternoon coverage last year), and the WNBA Phoenix Mercury had an inauspicious season debut on Fox Sports Arizona.
John Deere Classic Overnights Drop
- Final round coverage of the PGA Tour John Deere Classic earned a 1.6 overnight rating on CBS Sunday afternoon, down 24% from last year (2.1), and down a tick from 2011 (1.7). The telecast topped NBC coverage of the European Tour Scottish Open, won by Phil Mickelson, which aired earlier in the day (1.3). On Saturday, third round coverage of the John Deere Classic earned a 1.0 overnight — down a tick from last year and 2011 (1.1 both years). (Weekend numbers from Sports Business Daily)
“Baseball Night” Ends With 2.3 Overnight
- The season’s final edition of “Baseball Night in America” on FOX, featuring Cardinals/Cubs in 30% of markets, earned a 2.3 overnight rating Saturday night — up 10% from afternoon coverage both last year and 2011 (2.1). (Weekend numbers from Sports Business Daily)
Mercury Matinee Not Much of a Draw in PHX
- Last Wednesday’s Silver Stars/Mercury WNBA regular season game, the first Mercury game of the season on Fox Sports Arizona, earned a mere 0.13 rating in the Phoenix market. Keep in mind that the game aired at 12:30 PM local time and did not feature injured C Brittney Griner. By comparison, Mercury telecasts on ESPN2 and ABC have averaged a 0.72 in the Phoenix market. (Nielsen)
