Ratings: NFL, NASCAR, MLB and more

Monday’s Jaguars-Saints NFL preseason game averaged 3.37 million viewers on ESPN, the largest preseason audience on cable since 2017 (Giants-Browns: 3.57M) and up 12% from the comparable window in 2019 (49ers-Broncos: 3.01M). Ratings were not immediately available.

ESPN’s first preseason game this year, Chiefs-Cardinals last Friday night, averaged a 1.3 rating and 2.16 million viewers — down 17% and 10% respectively from ’19 (Raiders-Cardinals: 1.5, 2.40M). The game aired directly opposite a competing preseason game on NFL Network (Bengals-WFT: 0.4, 749K).

NFL Network’s top preseason game last weekend was Jets-Packers last Saturday afternoon, which averaged a 1.0 and 1.78 million — up 37% and 48% respectively from ’19 (Browns-Colts: 0.8, 1.20M). In other action that day, it pulled a 1.0 (-5%) and 1.63 million (-2%) for Lions-Steelers, a 0.8 and 1.29 million for Bills-Bears, and a 0.6 (-15%) and 991,000 (-12%) for Raiders-Rams.

Shifting to Sunday, NFL Network drew a 1.0 and 1.72 million for 49ers-Chargers and a 1.0 and 1.7 million for Giants-Browns. The comparable windows in 2019 aired on CBS and FOX.

Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race from Michigan averaged a 1.5 rating and 2.51 million viewers on NBCSN, up a tick in ratings and 5% in viewership from last year (1.4, 2.37M) but down 17% and 14% respectively from 2019 (1.8, 2.90M). Keep in mind that last year’s race was the second of a doubleheader weekend at the track, with a Saturday race there pulling a 1.0 and 1.65 million. Starting this year, there is only one Michigan Cup race per season.

Notably, while ratings increased just 4% from last year, the share was up a more substantial 21%. The share is the percentage of households viewing in the average minute out of the number of homes with televisions in use.

In other motorsports action, IndyCar on NBCSN chipped in a 0.25 and 434,000 at Gateway Motorsports Park Saturday night and the NHRA on FOX scored a 0.48 and 735,000 on Sunday afternoon.

The Angels-Indians MLB Little League Classic averaged a 0.56 rating and 1.01 million viewers on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball last weekend, down 30% in ratings and 27% in viewership from Phillies-Braves last year (0.8, 1.38M) and down 49% and 43% respectively from the 2019 Little League Classic (Cubs-Pirates: 1.1, 1.76M). It was no match for the previous night’s primetime Little League game on ESPN (0.62, 1.13M).

In other action, Tuesday’s Dodgers-Padres game averaged 589,000 viewers on ESPN, up 22% from ’19 (Yankees-A’s: 481K). Figures for Wednesday’s marathon were not immediately available.

Shifting to the other networks, FS1 drew a season-high 0.42 and 692,000 for Twins-Yankees on Saturday, followed by a 0.28 and 506,000 for Mets-Dodgers. TBS pulled a mere 0.15 and 224,000 for White Sox-Rays on Sunday, somehow up 14% from last year (Rays-Blue Jays: 196K) but down 56% from 2019 (Dodgers-Braves: 508K).

Entering the MLS All-Star Game, MLS matches were averaging 384,000 viewers across ESPN/ABC, 302,000 on Univision and UniMas, and 231,000 on FOX and FS1, up 39, 26 and 1 percent respectively from 2019. Those increases are more substantial compared to last year’s disjointed season, up 50, 21 and 14 percent respectively. … Track & field’s Prefontaine Classic — featuring Sha’Carri Richardson’s surprising last-place finish in her much-hyped return — averaged a 0.7 rating and 1.18 million viewers on NBC, flat in ratings and up 11% in viewership from 2019 (0.7, 1.06M). … Delayed a day due to rain, Monday’s final round of the PGA Tour Northern Trust — the first leg of the FedEx Cup — averaged a 1.1 and 1.59 million viewers on CBS. Third round coverage on Saturday drew a 1.2 and 1.83 million. … The final round of the Women’s British Open averaged a combined 0.73 rating and 1.12 million viewers across NBC and Golf Channel Sunday, up 0.52 and 798,000 on NBC Sunday, up 14% and 26% respectively from last year on NBC alone (0.64, 886K).