CBS opened its college basketball schedule on a stronger note; Wednesday Night Hockey sank on NBCSN; Top Rank Boxing was less of a draw; and more.
CBS scores most-watched college hoops debut in three years
Last Saturday’s Oregon-Michigan college basketball game averaged a 1.3 rating and 1.83 million viewers on CBS, the network’s most-watched season debut in three years (2016 UCLA-Kentucky: 1.93M).
Compared to previous CBS season openers, ratings increased 44% and viewership 43% from last year (Michigan State-Florida: 0.9, 1.28M) and 117% and 103% respectively from 2017 (Indiana-Michigan: 0.6, 902K).
The Wolverines’ overtime win delivered the third-largest audience of the season, behind both games of the Champions Classic (Kansas-Duke: 2.42M; MSU-Kentucky: 2.27M).
In other action last weekend, ESPN averaged a 0.7 and 1.15 million for Georgia Tech-Kentucky; FOX scored a 0.6 and 778,000 for Syracuse-Georgetown; ABC drew a 0.43 and 632,000 for UCLA-Notre Dame.
Double-digit drop for Avs-‘Hawks
The latest edition of NHL Wednesday Night Hockey (Avalanche-Blackhawks) averaged 344,000 viewers on NBCSN, down 51% from last year (Penguins-Capitals: 697K) and down 14% from 2017 (Red Wings-Flyers: 402K). Ratings were not immediately available.
The telecast aired opposite coverage of the presidential impeachment vote (16M).
Tuesday night, Sabres-Maple Leafs averaged 222,000 (+59%).
Top Rank sinks in post-Heisman window
Airing after the Heisman Trophy Presentation, ESPN’s Top Rank Boxing averaged a 0.9 rating and 1.35 million viewers last Saturday night — down 25% in ratings and 28% in viewership from the same post-Heisman window last year (1.2, 1.87M) and down a tick and 22% respectively from 2017 (1.0, 1.73M).
Notably, Top Rank posted steeper declines in ratings and viewership than its Heisman lead-in.
Despite the decline, it was still the most-watched Top Rank event of the year.
Miscellaneous: FCS, Volleyball, Fox NFL Sunday
Last Saturday’s North Dakota State-Illinois State FCS football quarterfinal averaged a 1.2 rating and 1.74 million viewers on ESPN, up a tick in ratings but down 4% in viewership from last year (NDSU-Colgate: 1.1, 1.81M). … ESPN averaged a 0.37 rating (+3%) and 618,000 viewers (+4%) for Thursday’s Wisconsin-Baylor NCAA women’s volleyball semifinal, followed by a 0.29 (-17%) and 487,000 (-21%) for NC State-Auburn later in the night. … Fox NFL Sunday is averaging 4.98 million viewers this season (+6%), the highest since 2015.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 12.17, Programming Insider 12.19, 12.20, Fox Sports PR]
