Via NBC Press Release:

PRIMETIME U.S. OPEN EARNS BEST SUNDAY OVERNIGHT IN SIX YEARS AND THIRD BEST IN OPEN HISTORY

8.5 Rating Produces a 21% Increase Over Last Year

Best Rating for Any Network From 7-9 PM ET Since Academy Awards

LA JOLLA, Calif. – June 16, 2008 – NBC Sports primetime broadcast (3-9 p.m. ET) of yesterday’s dramatic final round of the U.S. Open produced the highest overnight rating for the championship in six years, an 8.5 rating and 18 share, the third best Sunday rating in Open history and a 21 increase percent over last year (7.0/17). The rating peaked from 8:30-9 p.m. ET at a 13.5/24 as Tiger Woods birdied the 18th hole to force a playoff with Rocco Mediate.

The 11.4/17 overnight from 7-9 p.m. ET is the best in that time period for any network since ABC’s Feb. 24 broadcast of the Academy Awards. The Open on NBC dominated the competition, more than doubling its closest competitor (CBS, 7-9 p.m. ET, 5.1/10) and earning NBC its best number in that time period since the 2006 Torino Olympic Games.

“We’re excited by the results and appreciative of the stars led by Tiger and Rocco, who gave our viewers two of the most memorable days of golf in recent memory,” said Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal, Sports & Olympics. “I’m especially proud of Tommy Roy and our entire production team, who produced more than 32 hours of coverage over the five days for NBC and our cable partner ESPN.”

TOP FIVE U.S. OPEN FINAL ROUND OVERNIGHT RATINGS:
1. 2002 Bethpage, 9.3/21 (Woods victory)
2. 2000 Pebble Beach, 8.8/21 (Woods victory)
3. 2008 Torrey Pines, 8.5/18 (Woods-Mediate playoff)
4. 1987 Olympic Club, 8.4/21 (Scott Simpson victory)
5. 1999 Pinehurst, 7.9/20 (Payne Stewart victory)

SUNDAY’S TOP 10 MARKETS:
1. San Diego, 14.0/34
2. Orlando, 13.0/23
3. Las Vegas, 12.3/23
4. Tampa, 12.2/24
T5. Fort Myers, 11.7/22
T5. Charlotte, 11.7/22
7. Washington, D.C., 11.5/25
8. Columbus, 11.1/24
9. Greensboro, 11.0/21
T9. St. Louis, 10.4/21
T9. Louisville, 10.4/21