ESPN scored big increases for Saturday’s matchup between Arkansas and LSU. In other news, the rain-delayed Chase For the Cup race from Phoenix was low on NBCSN, and NASCAR’s Xfinity Series had a steep decline.
Arkansas/LSU Tops ESPN Charts
- The Arkansas/LSU college football game drew a 2.0 overnight rating on ESPN Saturday night, up a third from Virginia/Florida State last year (1.5), up two-thirds from Virginia Tech/Miami in 2013 (1.2) and the top college football telecast of the weekend on cable. Washington State/UCLA followed with a 1.5, off 21% from Oregon/Utah last year (1.9). In the afternoon, Florida/South Carolina had a mere 1.2 overnight — down 37% from last year’s Georgia/Kentucky game (1.9) — and Oklahoma State/Iowa State drew a 1.3. There was no comparable window last year.
Delayed NASCAR From Phoenix Low on NBCSN
- Rain delayed NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Phoenix, the ninth race in the Chase For the Cup, had a 1.3 overnight rating on NBCSN Sunday night. The race had a 2.8 last year and a 2.5 in 2013, when it was run as scheduled on ESPN. The 1.3 is the lowest for a delayed or postponed race this season (six races), trailing Charlotte last month (1.4), Bristol in April (1.4), Kansas in May (1.5), Daytona in July (2.6) and Richmond in April (3.1). Rain delay coverage drew a 1.5 on NBC earlier in the day.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Down Again
- NASCAR Xfinity Series racing from Phoenix drew a 0.7 overnight rating on NBCSN Saturday afternoon, down 42% from last year on ESPN (1.2). Last year’s race was sandwiched between college football games. The last ten Xfinity Series races on cable have had either a 0.7 or 0.6 rating in the metered markets.
(Wknd. numbers via ESPN, ShowBuzz Daily)
