Outside of primetime, NBC’s afternoon windows were the biggest draws on the opening weekend of the Olympics. In other news, NASCAR overnights dipped opposite Olympic competition, and Premier Boxing Champions held up well despite facing the Opening Ceremony.
Afternoon Windows Top NBC’s Non-Primetime Coverage
- Afternoon coverage of the Rio Summer Olympics on NBC earned an 8.5 overnight rating on Sunday and an 8.0 on Saturday, marking easily the highest rated daypart outside of primetime. Comparable figures in 2012 were not available. Morning windows scored a 5.3 on Sunday and a 5.1 on Saturday, while late night delivered a 4.1 and 3.9, respectively. (via Sports Business Daily)
NASCAR Watkins Glen Down Opposite Olympics
- NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Watkins Glen earned a 2.1 overnight rating on USA Network Sunday afternoon, down 13% from last year on NBCSN (2.4) and down 30% from 2014 on ESPN (3.0). The last time the race aired opposite the Olympics, 2012, it earned a 2.7 on ESPN. Seven of the past nine Sprint Cup races have posted declines in the metered markets, not including the two rained out Pocono races. (via Sports Business Daily)
PBC Up Despite Opening Ceremony
- Airing opposite the Olympic Opening Ceremony, the latest edition of Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN earned 416,000 viewers Friday night — up 2% and 3%, respectively, from the network’s previous telecasts two and three weeks earlier (410K and 403K). Of the six PBC cards on ESPN this year, it ranks third in viewership. (via ShowBuzz Daily)
