Ratings and viewership hit a four-year high for the NASCAR “Clash” at Daytona. Also: the PGA Tour posted a decline at Pebble Beach; NBC scored another NHL bump; miscellaneous numbers for a handful of other events.
NASCAR “Clash” hits four-year high
Sunday’s NASCAR “Clash” at Daytona averaged a 1.5 rating and 2.46 million viewers on FS1, marking the highest rating and viewership for the event since it last aired on FOX four years ago (2.8, 4.84M).
The annual preseason event increased 11% in ratings and 7% in viewership from last year (1.4, 2.29M) and 12% and 9% respectively from 2018 (1.35, 2.26M).
Earlier in the day, Daytona 500 qualifying averaged a 1.1 (flat) and 1.66 million (-2%) on FOX — the smallest audience for that event since at least 2007.
Pebble Beach down from Phil’s win last year
Sunday’s final round of the PGA Tour Pebble Beach National Pro-Am averaged a 2.3 rating and 3.51 million viewers on CBS, down a tick in ratings and 6% in viewership from Phil Mickelson’s win last year (2.4, 3.73M), but up a tick and 1% respectively from 2018 (2.2, 3.48M).
Nick Taylor’s win, in which Mickelson finished third, topped only 2018 as the least-watched final round of the tournament in six years (2014: 2.70M).
Third round action averaged a 1.6 (-16%) and 2.40 million (-18%) on Saturday. Lead-in coverage on Golf Channel averaged a 0.47 (-25%) and 742,000 (-22%) on Saturday and a 0.8 (+21%) and 1.14 million (+18%) on Sunday.
NBC scores another NHL bump despite presence of last-place Wings
Bruins-Red Wings averaged a 0.6 rating and 937,000 viewers on the NHL on NBC Sunday afternoon, flat in ratings but up 4% in viewership from last year (Blues-Predators: 0.6, 898K), and down 48% and 50% respectively from Penguins-Blues leading into the Olympics two years ago (1.2, 1.89M).
The last-place Red Wings’ upset win was the lowest rated and least-watched game on NBC this season. Even so, it was the fourth of the network’s five games to post an increase, the Winter Classic being the lone exception.
In other action, Red Wings-Sabres averaged 269,000 and Sharks-Oilers 148,000 on NBCSN Thursday night.
Miscellaneous: CBB, Racing, Bowling
CBS averaged a 0.9 rating (-10%) and 1.49 million viewers (-4%) for Saturday’s Kentucky-Tennessee men’s college basketball game and a 0.9 (-29%) and 1.33 million (-30%) for Ohio State-Wisconsin on Sunday. Over on FOX, Michigan State-Michigan averaged a 0.8 (flat) and 1.27 million (+3%) and Seton-Hall-Villanova a 0.6 (flat) and 875,000 (+0.3%) on Saturday. … Airing immediately after NASCAR’s “Clash” at Daytona, Sunday’s NHRA opener from Pomona (Ca.) averaged a 0.51 and 877,000 (-11%) on FS1. Saturday’s ARCA race from Daytona pulled a 0.51 (+4%) and 794,000 (+5%). … Aided by an XFL lead-in, Sunday’s PBA Tournament of Champions averaged a 0.9 and 1.46 million viewers on FOX (+29%), ranking as the most-watched PBA event in at least a decade that did not air adjacent to NFL coverage.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 2.11]
