First, the results of last week’s predictions.
Source: Sports Business Daily
| Sport | Game/Event | Net |
Prediction
|
Final rating
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR | LifeLock.com 400 | TNT |
3.3
|
3.0
|
| Ratings dropped for the last NASCAR race of the season on TNT. The 3.0 U.S. rating for the LifeLock.com 400 was off 6% from a 3.2 for last year’s race, and off 25% from a 4.0 in ’07. Overall, TNT averaged a 3.3 U.S. rating for its coverage of 6 NASCAR races, down 8% from a 3.6 last year. | ||||
| MLB | Yankees/Angels or other regional action | FOX |
2.4
|
2.0
|
| FOX drew a 2.0 rating for its last MLB telecast before the All-Star break, up 5% from a 1.9 for comparable coverage in ’08. | ||||
| IRL | Honda Indy Toronto | ABC |
0.8
|
1.0
|
| The 1.0 final rating for last Sunday’s Honda Indy Toronto marks the highest rating of the season for an IRL race outside of the Indianapolis 500. | ||||
This week’s predictions:
| Sport | Game/Event | Date/Time | Net |
Prediction
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golf | British Open, Final Round | 8 AM Sunday | ABC |
3.5
|
| For the very last time, ABC will televise final round coverage of the British Open. While the absence of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will ensure that ratings hover near last year’s decade-low 3.3, the unlikely presence of Tom Watson at the top of the leaderboard should keep the numbers respectable. | ||||
| Other | ESPY Awards | 9 PM Sunday | ESPN |
1.8
|
| Do not be surprised if Sunday night’s much hyped ESPY Awards telecast merely matches the ratings of last April’s Women’s NCAA National Championship Game (1.8). | ||||
| MLB | Mets/Braves or other regional action | 4:00 PM Saturday | FOX |
1.9
|
| After a relatively successful All-Star Game, regular season baseball coverage returns to FOX. More than half of the MLB telecasts on FOX during the first half of the season drew less than a 2.0 rating. Will the second half of the season be any different? | ||||
