FOX continues to struggle with college basketball coverage. In other news, the NBA returned from its extended All-Star hiatus with declines, and coverage of the USA Rugby Sevens fell on NBC.
Another Small Audience For College Hoops on FOX
- Last Saturday’s St. John’s/Xavier college basketball game drew a 0.3 final rating and 420,000 viewers on FOX, marking the network’s fourth telecast this season to earn fewer than 500,000 viewers. Each of the four has featured at least one Big East team. Later in the day, Oregon/UCLA drew a 0.4 and 583,000. CBS, by comparison, earned a 0.9 and 1.2 million for Baylor/Kansas on Saturday and a 1.2 and 1.9 million for Illinois/Wisconsin on Sunday. (via Sports Business Daily)
TNT Doubleheader Down From Previous Heat-Fueled Numbers
- Thursday’s Mavericks/Thunder NBA regular season game drew 1.8 million viewers on TNT, down 54% from Heat/Thunder last year (3.9M) and down 28% from Heat/Bulls in 2013 (2.4M). The Spurs/Clippers nightcap drew 1.5 million, down 26% from Rockets/Warriors last year (2.0M) and down 24% from Spurs/Clippers in 2013 (2.0M). (via TV By the Numbers)
USA Rugby Sevens Down on NBC
- Coverage of the USA Sevens rugby tournament drew a 0.7 final rating and 827,000 viewers on NBC Sunday afternoon, down a tick in ratings and 33% in viewership from last year, when coverage aired in January (0.8, 1.2M). Saturday coverage drew a 0.4 and 764,000, down 33% and 21%, respectively, from last year (0.6, 969K). (via Sports Business Daily)
