Viewership increased double-digits for primetime coverage of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but still trailed the last Olympic year. In other news, TNT and ESPN scored solid numbers for the Heat in N.Y. last week, and the Knicks hit a season-high on MSG Network Monday night.
U.S. Figure Skating Championships Down From Last Olympic Year
- Primetime coverage of the U.S. Figure Skating Championships drew 4.2 million viewers on NBC Saturday night, up 26% from last year (3.3M) and up 13% from 2012 (3.7M). Compared to the last Olympic year — 2010 — viewership declined 22% from 5.4 million. Head-to-head, the figure skating telecast was crushed by the Colts/Patriots NFL playoff game (31.7M). (The Futon Critic)
Heat/Knicks Good For TNT
- Last Thursday’s Heat/Knicks NBA regular season game drew 3.1 million viewers on TNT, up 117% from Knicks/Pacers last year (1.5M), and the most-viewed game of the season outside of Opening Night and Christmas Day. Heat/Nets on ESPN the following night drew 2.5 million, up 31% from Bulls/Knicks last year (1.9M). (The Futon Critic [1], [2])
Knicks Hit Season-High on MSG
- Monday’s Knicks/Suns NBA game drew a 4.0 local rating on MSG Network in N.Y., the network’s highest rating of the season for a Knicks game. In Phoenix, where Suns ratings have increased 29% on Fox Sports Arizona, the game was the third-highest rated of the year. (Nielsen)
