NFL singleheader ratings slipped to a Week 12 low. Also: NBC’s Notre Dame finale was no match for last year; a marquee matchup did nothing to reverse the NBA’s slump; plus, numbers for the Premier League, college basketball and more.
NFL singleheader hits Week 12 low
Sunday’s NFL singleheader window (mostly Panthers-Saints or Raiders-Jets) averaged an 8.1 rating and 13.52 million viewers on CBS, marking the lowest rated and least-watched Week 12 singleheader since at least 2000.
Despite the multi-year low, ratings and viewership fell only a modest 6% and 7% respectively from last year (8.6, 14.56M).
NBC’s ND finale down; quiet week for SEC on CBS
Last Saturday’s Boston College-Notre Dame college football game, NBC’s final telecast of the season, averaged a 1.1 rating and 1.66 million viewers — down 39% in ratings and 42% in viewership from last year’s season finale (Syracuse-Notre Dame: 1.8, 2.87M) and down 45% and 48% respectively from the 2017 finale (Navy-Notre Dame: 2.0, 3.20M).
According to Sports Business Daily, NBC averaged 2.13 million viewers for Notre Dame coverage this season, likely its lowest average since acquiring rights.
In other action, Texas A&M-Georgia averaged a 2.9 rating and 4.89 million viewers on the SEC on CBS, marking the network’s fourth-lowest rating and fifth-smallest audience this season (13 telecasts).
If low for the season, the Bulldogs’ win trailed only Penn State-Ohio State on FOX (5.8, 9.43M) as the top game of the weekend.
Marquee matchup fails to stanch NBA declines
Rockets-Clippers averaged a 1.1 rating and 1.66 million viewers on ESPN NBA Friday last week, flat in ratings and down 3% in viewership from last year (Bulls-Bucks: 1.1, 1.70M), but up 22% and 23% respectively from 2017 (Pelicans-Nuggets: 0.9, 1.35M).
Since Opening Night, five of seven Clippers games on ESPN or TNT have declined.
Earlier in the day, Spurs-Sixers averaged a 0.7 (-36%) and 1.06 million (-42%). Overall, 20 of 28 windows on ESPN and TNT have declined, including 16 of 20 since Opening Week.
Miscellaneous: EPL, Duke-Georgetown, LPGA, ISU GP
Last Sunday’s Chelsea-Manchester City Premier League match averaged a 0.6 rating and 1.01 million viewers on NBC, ranking second for the season behind Tottenham-Manchester City in August (1.04M). … Last Friday’s Duke-Georgetown Empire Classic final (0.5, 821K) soared 82% in ratings and 44% in viewership over Iowa-UConn last year. … Sunday’s LPGA Tour season finale had a 0.30 and 395,000 on NBC, easily the lowest since it moved to broadcast TV in 2015. … NBC drew a 0.6 (flat) and 848,000 (+6%) for taped coverage of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating from Japan.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 11.26, Sports Business Daily 11.27]
