ESPN scored big gains for Saturday’s second-annual FCS Kickoff. In other news, viewership fell for the ArenaBowl, and a shift from broadcast to cable sank two tennis telecasts over the weekend.
Big Jump For FCS Kickoff
- Saturday’s North Dakota State/Montana FCS Kickoff game earned a 0.7 final rating and 981,000 viewers on ESPN, up 40% in ratings and 45% in viewership from Eastern Washington/Sam Houston State last year (0.5, 676K). The Grizzlies’ win attracted more media coverage than usual due to the presence of ESPN play-by-play voice Brent Musburger, who called the game. (ESPN)
ArenaBowl Viewership Down
- The SaberCats/Sharks ArenaBowl drew 431,000 viewers on ESPN Saturday night, down 26% from Rattlers/Gladiators last year (583K). Of the three football games on ESPN Saturday, it ranked dead last in viewership — trailing a Noon ET high school football game (485K) and more-than-doubled by the aforementioned FCS Kickoff. (via ShowBuzz Daily)
Shift From Broadcast to Cable Sinks Arthur Ashe Kids Day
- ESPN2 earned 176,000 viewers for Sunday’s Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the U.S. Open, down 74% from last year on CBS (686K). The steep decline followed a 60% drop for the final of the ATP Winston Salem Open the previous day, which also aired on CBS last year (495K to 198K). The only event to buck the downward trend was the final of the WTA New Haven Open, which saw a 24% increase (244K to 303K) — with the caveat that the event aired on ESPN2 both this year and last. (via Sports TV Ratings [1], [2])
