With most of the country getting a potential Super Bowl preview, the NFL singleheader window scored its highest overnight in four years. Also: overnights for Ohio State-Michigan; final numbers for Anthony Davis’ return to New Orleans and the Maui Invitational.
Niners-Ravens lifts singleheader to four-year high in overnights
Sunday’s NFL singleheader (49ers-Ravens in 58% of markets) averaged a 13.2 overnight rating on FOX, the highest for the window in any week of the season since 2015 (mostly Panthers-Giants: 15.3). Overnights jumped 39% from last year (9.5) and 35% from 2017 (9.8), both of which aired on CBS.
The singleheader easily topped the competing regional window on CBS (mostly Browns-Steelers), which averaged a 7.5 (-24%).
In other action, the NFL national window (mostly Raiders-Chiefs) averaged a 13.8 — down 13% from last year (mostly Vikings-Patriots: 15.9) but up 1% from 2017 (mostly Panthers-Saints: 13.7). The 13.8 is tied as the third-lowest for that window this season.
NBC no longer releases overnights for its Sunday night games.
OSU-Michigan overnights dip, but among best of season
Saturday’s Ohio State-Michigan college football game averaged a 7.5 overnight rating on FOX, the second-highest overnight of the season. The 7.5 marks a 6% decline from last year’s game between the rivals (8.0) but a 12% increase over 2017 (6.7).
Viewership down for Davis’ New Orleans return
Last Wednesday’s Lakers-Pelicans NBA regular season game, which marked Anthony Davis’ return to New Orleans, averaged 2.34 million viewers on ESPN — down 19% from last year (Thunder-Warriors: 2.89M) but up 9% from 2017 (Lakers-Kings: 2.15M). Ratings were not immediately available.
Earlier in the night, Nets-Celtics averaged 1.76 million — down 52% from Lakers-Cavaliers last year (LeBron James’ return to Cleveland: 3.69M), and down 46% from 2017 (Warriors-Thunder: 3.28M).
Of the 30 NBA games on ESPN and TNT that can be compared to last year, 22 have declined. That includes 18 of 22 windows since Opening Week.
Maui Invitational final down big, but nears high
The Kansas-Dayton Maui Invitational final averaged 1.36 million viewers on ESPN last Wednesday afternoon, trailing only Gonzaga-Duke last year (2.30M) as the most-watched final of the tournament since 2011 (Duke-Kansas: 2.20M).
Though down 41% from last year, the Jayhawks’ win increased 177% from 2017, when the final aired on ESPN2 in a late night window (Wichita State-Notre Dame: 493K).
Earlier in the day, North Carolina-Alabama averaged 847,000 in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis (+54%).
[Nielsen estimates from Fox Sports, CBS Sports, ShowBuzz Daily 12.2]
