The first NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Fox Sports 1 scored a modest increase over last year. In other news, ESPN scored mixed numbers for a Wednesday NBA doubleheader, and ESPN2 scored a big increase for Duke/Virginia Tech.
FS1 Scores Increase For First Xfinity Series Race
- Last Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race from Daytona drew 2.9 million viewers on Fox Sports 1, up 8% from last year opposite the Olympics on ESPN (2.7M), but down 12% from 2013 (3.4M). The race ranks as the 13th-most watched telecast on Fox Sports 1 since the network rebranding from Speed Channel in 2013. (Fox Sports)
ESPN Scores Increase For Clippers/Rockets
- ESPN drew 1.3 million viewers for the Clippers/Rockets NBA regular season game Wednesday night, up 27% from Pelicans/Mavericks last year (1.0M) and down 17% from Warriors/Knicks in 2013 (1.6M). The Rockets’ win was just the second non-Cavaliers game in the past month to have an increase. The Spurs/Blazers nightcap drew 1.2 million, down 25% from Rockets/Clippers last year (1.7M) and down 9% from Nuggets/Blazers in 2013 (1.4M). (via TV By the Numbers)
Kentucky Down Big Saturday, Up Big Wednesday
- Despite airing opposite the NBA on ESPN, the Duke/Virginia Tech college basketball game drew 1.2 million viewers on ESPN2 Wednesday night — up 125% from California/Arizona last year (523K) and up 170% from Oklahoma/Texas in 2013 (437K). The Blue Devils’ previous game, against Clemson on Saturday, drew 1.8 million (+16%). In other action Saturday, Kentucky/Auburn drew 2.1 million on ESPN — down 51% from Syracuse/Duke last year (4.2M). (via TV By the Numbers)
[CORRECTION: An earlier version of this post mistakenly said that Kentucky/Mississippi State was Wednesday’s ESPN2 game. It aired on SEC Network.]
