NFL Network’s preseason opener outdrew all of its 2019 exhibition games. Plus: a new nine-year high for the WNBA, a six-year high for the Premier League opening weekend, and a sharp decline — with a caveat — for the PGA Tour.
NFL Network’s preseason opener tops all of its 2019 games
Last Thursday’s Washington-Patriots NFL preseason game averaged a 1.0 rating and 1.75 million viewers on NFL Network, marking the outlet’s largest preseason audience since 2018 (keep in mind there were no preseason games last year). The game, which faced tough competition from the competing MLB “Field of Dreams” game on FOX, increased a tick in ratings and 17% in viewership from the comparable window in 2019 (Jets-Giants: 0.9, 1.50M).
The following night’s Bills-Lions game drew a 0.8 (+4%) and 1.30 million (+6%), with the Cowboys-Cardinals nightcap at a 0.75 and 1.25 million.
Shifting to the weekend, Browns-Jaguars (Trevor Lawrence’s NFL debut) averaged a 0.9 and 1.67 million Saturday night. Broncos-Vikings drew a 1.0 and 1.63 million and Dolphins-Bears a 1.0 and 1.59 million earlier in the day. The Chargers-Rams nightcap pulled a 0.6 and 1.12 million. NFL Network carried only one game on the comparable day in 2019, a Cowboys-49ers matchup that drew a 1.0 and 1.66 million.
Panthers-Colts pulled a 0.7 and 1.20 million on Sunday. There was no comparable window last preseason.
WNBA hits new nine-year high, cruises past La Liga lead-in
Sunday’s Storm-Sky WNBA regular season game averaged a 0.47 rating and 755,000 viewers on ABC, marking the league’s largest regular season audience in nine years (Mercury-Lynx: 804K). The previous high was set by ABC’s previous game last month, 643,000 for Aces-Wings.
Seattle’s overtime win comfortably outdrew its lead-in, Barcelona-Real Sociedad in La Liga’s U.S. broadcast network debut (0.25, 465K). The margin was much closer in adults 18-49, where the WNBA topped La Liga by just 5,000 viewers (175K to 170K).
Due to the La Liga match, Storm-Sky was pushed back from its original 1 PM ET start and stretched well past 6 PM ET — the latest finish in recent memory for a WNBA game on ABC.
Premier League opening weekend most-watched in six years
The opening weekend of the English Premier League averaged 628,000 viewers across NBC’s various TV and digital platforms, the most-watched opening weekend since 2015 (694K). Liverpool-Norwich led the way with a 0.52 rating and 912,000 viewers on NBC Saturday, followed by a 0.43 and 757,000 for Manchester City-Tottenham on NBCSN Sunday. Including additional streaming data not tracked by Nielsen, the latter match averaged 818,000 viewers — the second-largest opening weekend match ever on cable, behind Manchester United-Chelsea two years ago (1.01M).
PGA Wyndham Championship hits low, with big caveat
Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Wyndham Championship averaged a 1.1 rating and 1.74 million viewers on CBS Sunday, down 32% in ratings and 28% in viewership from last year (1.6, 2.42M) and the tournament’s smallest final round audience since 2016 (1.40M). Third round action the previous day drew a 0.8 (-24%) and 1.24 million (-19%).
The numbers come with significant caveats. Because play moved up to 10 AM ET due to inclement weather, CBS carried just twelve minutes of live coverage on Sunday — the tail end of the six-person playoff from 3-3:12 PM ET. The remainder of the telecast was tape delayed.
Sunday’s Storm-Sky WNBA regular season game averaged a 0.47 rating and 755,000 viewers on ABC, marking the league’s largest regular season audience in nine years (Mercury-Lynx: 804K). The previous high was set by ABC’s previous game last month, 643,000 for Aces-Wings.
Seattle’s overtime win comfortably outdrew its lead-in, Barcelona-Real Sociedad in La Liga’s U.S. broadcast network debut (0.25, 465K). The margin was much closer in adults 18-49, where the WNBA topped La Liga by just 5,000 viewers (175K to 170K).
Due to the La Liga match, Storm-Sky was pushed back from its original 1 PM ET start and stretched well past 6 PM ET — the latest finish in recent memory for a WNBA game on ABC.
Premier League opening weekend most-watched in six years
The opening weekend of the English Premier League averaged 628,000 viewers across NBC’s various TV and digital platforms, the most-watched opening weekend since 2015 (694K). Liverpool-Norwich led the way with a 0.52 rating and 912,000 viewers on NBC Saturday, followed by a 0.43 and 757,000 for Manchester City-Tottenham on NBCSN Sunday. Including additional streaming data not tracked by Nielsen, the latter match averaged 818,000 viewers — the second-largest opening weekend match ever on cable, behind Manchester United-Chelsea two years ago (1.01M).
PGA Wyndham Championship hits low, with big caveat
Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Wyndham Championship averaged a 1.1 rating and 1.74 million viewers on CBS Sunday, down 32% in ratings and 28% in viewership from last year (1.6, 2.42M) and the tournament’s smallest final round audience since 2016 (1.40M). Third round action the previous day drew a 0.8 (-24%) and 1.24 million (-19%).
The numbers come with significant caveats. Because play moved up to 10 AM ET due to inclement weather, CBS carried just twelve minutes of live coverage on Sunday — the tail end of the six-person playoff from 3-3:12 PM ET. The remainder of the telecast was tape delayed.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 8.17, NFL PR/Twitter 8.13, NBC Sports PR, with golf telecast information from Jeremy Schilling.]
