While I have no viewer data I did get some metered market ratings for some of this weekend’s sporting events including the Masters and the NHL and NBA. Note: BE VERY WEARY WARY of the comparisons to last year’s data, with the exception of the Masters comparisons to itself.
This is an a problem with Nielsen sometimes. The other comparisons to last year are for the weekend of 4/14-4/15/2007, that’s comparable in time period, but not comparable at all in terms of the competition as last year the Masters’ final weekend was 4/7 & 4/8. So it looks like the NHL ratings were down 17% for Sunday’s matchup the way Nielsen does the comparisons – but it’s not fair. The game they compared it to (Calgary vs. Detroit) was played on April 15 and did NOT compete with Tiger Woods (though it is otherwise a fair comparison if you don’t care about that sort of thing).
Saturday’s third round coverage at Augusta National from 4p-7:45p (EDT) averaged a 6.1/14 (ratings/share) which was basically unchanged from last year’s 6.1/13. Sunday’s final round coverage from 3p-7:45p delivered an 8.9/18, down ~2% from last year’s 9.1/21 (where Tiger Woods also finished second).
Sports across the board (that are not the NFL) are suffering. The NBA game featuring Toronto vs Detroit from 1p-3:30p on Sunday scored a 1.8/4, down 5% versus last year. The 3:30p-6p game featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs delivered a 2.8/6, down ~3% from last year’s 2.9/6 game featuring Dallas and San Antonia – but again, that game was on 4/15 and not against the Masters so those numbers look really good to me.
The NHL game on Saturday featuring Nashville at Detroit (2p-5p) delivered a 1.0/3, and while they are saying it was down 17% from last year’s games they again, compared to the weekend that wasn’t up against the Masters.
Sunday’s NHL game with the Flyers of Philadelphia visiting the Washington Capitals suffered a similar fate, of being down 17% versus a Calgary and Detroit game on 4/15/07 that wasn’t against the masters.
The Flyers/Caps game fared better in the local markets, drawing a 3.8 in Philadelphia and 3.0 in Washington, DC, which is very good for a town considered by many not to be a hockey town. It looks like Ted is converting them slowly, though neither Philly or DC is like Detroit which had a 9.8 local rating for Saturday’s game. Nashville had a 2.0 local rating for the game.
Michael Hiestand over at USA Today disagrees with you on the NBA: “TNT finishes its NBA regular-season coverage averaging 1.1% of U.S. households — up 13% from last season. In national ratings, ABC’s NBA game average is up 5% and ESPN is up 8%.”
Yes, this weekend may have been low, but there was very little implication in the outcomes of the games for the playoff picture and, as you say, there was a Tiger watch.
Furthermore, what about Red Sox – Yankees on FOX Saturday? The rain delay pushed the ending into the 8:00-9:00 time slot (which FOX conveniently cut away from 2 pitches from the end).
Michael Hiestand over at USA Today disagrees with you on the NBA: “TNT finishes its NBA regular-season coverage averaging 1.1% of U.S. households — up 13% from last season. In national ratings, ABC's NBA game average is up 5% and ESPN is up 8%.”
Yes, this weekend may have been low, but there was very little implication in the outcomes of the games for the playoff picture and, as you say, there was a Tiger watch.
Furthermore, what about Red Sox – Yankees on FOX Saturday? The rain delay pushed the ending into the 8:00-9:00 time slot (which FOX conveniently cut away from 2 pitches from the end).
you don’t actually read what I write, do you? These are data for national games on broadcast networks and I said I thought in light of the unfair comparison to last year’s non masters dates, that the NBA numbers looked really good. I didn’t get the FOX MLB data, or I would’ve included it. Nonetheless, the trend for all sports on broadcast is down aside from NFL
you don't actually read what I write, do you? These are data for national games on broadcast networks and I said I thought in light of the unfair comparison to last year's non masters dates, that the NBA numbers looked really good. I didn't get the FOX MLB data, or I would've included it. Nonetheless, the trend for all sports on broadcast is down aside from NFL
As I wrote in the sports post today, we get our non-primetime sports data rather randomly from Nielsen, if we get it for last week, I’m sure it will have the Sox/Yanks game in the list.
As I wrote in the sports post today, we get our non-primetime sports data rather randomly from Nielsen, if we get it for last week, I'm sure it will have the Sox/Yanks game in the list.
and Daniel, I take it back: I don’t read what I write
I didn’t specificy BROADCAST sports are down other than NFL, so slap me silly for that. I apologize.
and Daniel, I take it back: I don't read what I write
I didn't specificy BROADCAST sports are down other than NFL, so slap me silly for that. I apologize.
Robert. Slap slap
. I just quoted USA Today directly because he did include the ABC number.
Gee, I wasn’t even “wary” enough to be “weary” of the data comparisons
Robert. Slap slap
. I just quoted USA Today directly because he did include the ABC number.
Gee, I wasn't even “wary” enough to be “weary” of the data comparisons
Well played, Daniel C., well played.
Well played, Daniel C., well played.
“Sports across the board (that are not the NFL) are suffering.”
Hmmmmm…..
NBA is up for the year on ABC
So is NASCAR on Fox
So is the NHL on NBC
So is Golf across all networks, albeit very slightly
The World Series was up last fall
The Daytona 500 was up this spring
So what are all these non-NFL sports that are suffering? The NCAA Tournament?
“Sports across the board (that are not the NFL) are suffering.”
Hmmmmm…..
NBA is up for the year on ABC
So is NASCAR on Fox
So is the NHL on NBC
So is Golf across all networks, albeit very slightly
The World Series was up last fall
The Daytona 500 was up this spring
So what are all these non-NFL sports that are suffering? The NCAA Tournament?
Just to close my own question, Michael Hiestand is out with the weekend ratings at USAToday. The Red Sox – Yankees averaged a 3.1 rating, up 17% from Sox – Angels last year.
Just to close my own question, Michael Hiestand is out with the weekend ratings at USAToday. The Red Sox – Yankees averaged a 3.1 rating, up 17% from Sox – Angels last year.
Daniel, it’s Sawx/Yankees though. Don’t you think if they ran Sox-Angels THIS weekend it would be more or less down by 17% from last weekend?
Daniel, it's Sawx/Yankees though. Don't you think if they ran Sox-Angels THIS weekend it would be more or less down by 17% from last weekend?
It’s only Sawx-Yanks for you foreigners outside of The Nation. You all have the funny accents.
Any game that isn’t Sox-Yanks will have lesser ratings. This is what MLB has wrought by focusing attention on a small minority of teams at the detriment of the league.
Besides, FOX only runs regular season games so it can get the World Series and promote its fall lineup with promos in the coaches’ boxes.
It's only Sawx-Yanks for you foreigners outside of The Nation. You all have the funny accents.
Any game that isn't Sox-Yanks will have lesser ratings. This is what MLB has wrought by focusing attention on a small minority of teams at the detriment of the league.
Besides, FOX only runs regular season games so it can get the World Series and promote its fall lineup with promos in the coaches' boxes.
You may be even more cynical than me Daniel… Of course that doesn’t mean you aren’t 100% correct.
“The Nation” reaches far and wide. When the Red Sox play the Giants (which unlike the A’s, sell lots of tickets to their games, at least they *used* to) it’s like being at a Red Sox home game.
Red Sox Nation is ahead of the Yankees in this way though there were a lot of Yankees fans for the Yanks games, it didn’t feel like a Yankees home game. Cubs pull in a lot of fans as well.
You may be even more cynical than me Daniel… Of course that doesn't mean you aren't 100% correct.
“The Nation” reaches far and wide. When the Red Sox play the Giants (which unlike the A's, sell lots of tickets to their games, at least they *used* to) it's like being at a Red Sox home game.
Red Sox Nation is ahead of the Yankees in this way though there were a lot of Yankees fans for the Yanks games, it didn't feel like a Yankees home game. Cubs pull in a lot of fans as well.