A Cowboy rout hit a decade-plus low in the metered markets; the Presidents Cup scored a record cable audience; ratings jumped by a third for Lakers-Heat.
Rams-Cowboys overnights hit low
Sunday’s NFL national window (Rams-Cowboys in 87% of markets) averaged a 15.0 rating on FOX, the lowest for the window in Week 15 of the season since 2005 (mostly Dallas-Washington: 13.6). Overnights fell 9% from last year (Steelers-Patriots: 16.5) and 12% from 2017 (mostly Patriots-Steelers: 17.0).
Earlier in the day, FOX averaged a 10.1 for coverage featuring Bears-Packers in 58% of markets (+22%) — the highest for that window in Week 15 since 2016 on CBS (11.0).
Speaking of CBS, the network averaged a 10.8 for singleheader coverage featuring Texans-Titans or Vikings-Chargers — its highest for the window this season. Even with the season-high, overnights fell 13% from last year on FOX and tied as the lowest for the Week 15 singleheader since at least 2007.
Presidents Cup sets cable record
Saturday’s final day of the Presidents Cup averaged a 1.1 rating and 1.71 million viewers on Golf Channel, marking the largest cable audience ever for the event. The previous high was 1.56 million for final day coverage in 2011. The telecast averaged 1.74 million including streaming.
The United States’ win, which peaked with a 1.4 and 2.15 million from 11:15-11:30 PM ET, increased 131% in ratings and 137% in viewership from 2015 (0.47, 720K), the last time the tournament took place overseas. Compared to live final day coverage two years ago, which aired on NBC, ratings fell 27% (from 1.5) and viewership 24% (from 2.26M).
The tournament also averaged 821,000 viewers on Friday (+44%), 959,000 last Thursday (no comparable telecast in 2015) and 762,000 last Wednesday (+63%).
Lakers-Heat ratings up a third on ESPN
Last Friday’s Lakers-Heat NBA regular season game averaged a 1.2 rating and 1.81 million viewers on ESPN, up a third in ratings and 32% in viewership from last year (Sixers-Pistons: 0.9, 1.37M) and up a tick and 12% respectively from 2017 (Warriors-Pistons: 1.1, 1.61M).
The Lakers’ win delivered the eighth-largest audience of the season, with the team having played in six of the top nine.
Later in the night, Clippers-Timberwolves averaged a 0.8 and 1.24 million — down 38% in ratings and 39% in viewership from Warriors-Bucks last year (1.3, 2.02M) and down 41% and 40% respectively from 2017 (Celtics-Spurs; 1.4, 2.08M).
[Nielsen estimates from Fox Sports, CBS Sports PR, Golf Channel, 12.16, Programming Insider 12.16, ShowBuzz Daily 12.12, 12.13, 12.16]
