Formula 1 viewership rose double-digits this season. Also: numbers for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, NHL, and a handful of other events.
F1 season up double-digits on ESPN networks
The Formula 1 season averaged 671,000 viewers on ESPN/ABC, up 21% from last year (554K) and up 25% from 2017 on the NBC family of networks (538K). Viewership increased 75% among adults 18-34, according to ESPN.
Last weekend’s season finale at Abu Dhabi averaged 0.30 rating (-7%) and 473,000 viewers (-3%), marking just the fourth of 21 races to decline. The other 17 races increased, including seven that set viewership records.
Slight dip for Wednesday’s ACC/B1G Challenge
ESPN averaged 1.54 million viewers for Ohio State-North Carolina in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge Wednesday night, down 2% from North Carolina-Michigan last year (1.56M) and down 9% from Duke-Indiana in 2017 (1.70M). Ratings were not immediately available.
Earlier in the night, Notre Dame-Maryland averaged 819,000 — down 3% from last year (Virginia-Maryland: 848K) and down 29% from 2017 (Clemson-Ohio State: 1.16M).
Blues-Pens among top games of season
The latest edition of NHL Wednesday Night Hockey (Blues-Penguins) averaged 436,000 viewers on NBCSN, the fifth-largest audience of the NHL season. Ratings were not immediately available. Viewership increased 66% from last year (Oilers-Blues: 262K) and 15% from 2017 (Blackhawks-Capitals: 378K).
On Tuesday night, Lightning-Predators averaged 241,000 (-16%).
Miscellaneous: CFB pregames, NBA, NASCAR Awards
FOX Big Noon Saturday averaged 2.79 million viewers from 11 AM ET until kickoff of the Ohio State-Michigan game last Saturday, nearly matching ESPN’s College Gameday during the same window (2.89M on ESPN and ESPNU). … Wednesday’s Lakers-Jazz NBA regular season game averaged 506,000 viewers on NBA TV, up 84% from last year (Magic-Blazers: 275K) and up 6% from 2017 (Warriors-Lakers: 477K). … The NASCAR Awards banquet averaged 254,000 viewers on NBCSN Thursday night; last year’s figure was unavailable.
[Nielsen estimates from ESPN, Fox Sports PR, ShowBuzz Daily 12.5, 12.6]
