After rain hampered last year’s tournament, ratings and viewership improved for the 2010 U.S. Open on NBC.
Final round coverage of the U.S. Open, won by Graeme McDowell, drew a 5.8 final rating and 9.266 million viewers on NBC Sunday, up 23% in ratings and 31% in viewership from third and final round coverage last year (4.7, 7.073 mil), down 23% in ratings and viewership from 2008 (7.5, 12.080 mil), and down 9% and 3%, respectively, from 2007 (6.4, 9.547 mil).
This is the first time since 2007 that the final round has ended on a Sunday. In 2009, rain pushed the conclusion of the final round to Monday, and in 2008, the tournament concluded with a Monday playoff between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate.
The 5.8 rating for Sunday’s coverage is the third-highest of the past seven years, but is tied as the 12th-lowest dating back to 1982.
This is the sixth time since 2003 that final round coverage has failed to draw a 6.0 rating; that happened only seven times in the previous 21 years.
The final round of the U.S. Open ranks as one of the ten most-viewed sporting events of the past two months — behind only the USA/England World Cup match on ABC and Univision (17.1 mil), the 2010 Kentucky Derby on NBC (16.5 mil) and every game of the 2010 NBA Finals on ABC.
Final round coverage outdrew the two other USA World Cup matches on ESPN/Univision (7.5 mil and 8.6 mil), as well as every game of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final on NBC.
Saturday’s third round action drew a 3.7 and 5.620 million viewers, up 9% in ratings and 16% in viewership from second and third round action last year (3.4, 4.9 mil), down 20% and 15%, respectively, from 2008 (4.6, 6.645 mil), and down 10% and 2%, respectively, from 2007 (4.1, 5.731 mil).
The 3.7 is the fifth-lowest rating for Saturday coverage of the U.S. Open dating back to ’82. This marks only the 6th time in that span that Saturday coverage has failed to draw a 4.0 rating.
Last Friday’s second round coverage drew a 1.7 and 2.236 million viewers, down 19% and 20%, respectively, from last year (2.1, 2.806 mil). The 1.7 is the lowest rating for Friday coverage on NBC since at least ’98.
First round coverage on June 17 drew a 1.6 and 2.158 million, up 100% and 93%, respectively, from last year’s rain-affected coverage (0.8, 1.121 mil). The 1.6 is the second-lowest for Thursday coverage since at least ’98.
Ratings For NBC Coverage of the U.S. Open Since 1998 (Viewership Since 2002)
Asterisk (*) indicates tournament ended on a Monday
| Year | Dates | Net | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | Viewers | Rating | Viewers | Rating | Viewers | Rating | Viewers | |||
| 2010 | 6/17-6/20 | NBC |
1.6
|
2,158
|
1.7
|
2,236
|
3.7
|
5,620
|
5.8
|
9,266
|
| 2009* | 6/18-6/22 | NBC |
0.8
|
1,121
|
2.1
|
2,806
|
3.4
|
4,850
|
4.7
|
7,073
|
| 2008* | 6/12-6/16 | NBC |
1.7
|
2,201
|
1.9
|
2,525
|
4.6
|
6,645
|
7.5
|
12,080
|
| 2007 | 6/14-6/17 | NBC |
1.8
|
2,275
|
2.3
|
2,909
|
4.1
|
5,731
|
6.4
|
9,547
|
| 2006 | 6/15-6/18 | NBC |
2.1
|
2,710
|
2.1
|
2,613
|
3.2
|
4,354
|
4.7
|
6,954
|
| 2005 | 6/16-6/19 | NBC |
2.1
|
2,635
|
2.6
|
3,355
|
4.0
|
5,396
|
5.6
|
7,964
|
| 2004 | 6/17-6/20 | NBC |
2.2
|
2,984
|
2.6
|
3,355
|
4.5
|
6,098
|
5.5
|
8,345
|
| 2003 | 6/12-6/15 | NBC |
2.1
|
2,501
|
2.9
|
3,735
|
4.6
|
6,178
|
4.9
|
6,772
|
| 2002 | 6/13-6/16 | NBC |
2.8
|
3,497
|
2.7
|
3,680
|
6.0
|
8,234
|
8.9
|
13,104
|
| 2001* | 6/14-6/18 | NBC |
2.9
|
—
|
3.3
|
—
|
5.3
|
—
|
7.2
|
—
|
| 2000 | 6/15-6/18 | NBC |
3.0
|
—
|
3.2
|
—
|
5.7
|
—
|
8.1
|
—
|
| 1999 | 6/17-6/20 | NBC |
2.6
|
—
|
2.7
|
—
|
4.8
|
—
|
6.8
|
—
|
| 1998 | 6/18-6/21 | NBC |
2.3
|
—
|
2.8
|
—
|
4.7
|
—
|
6.0
|
—
|
