When Notre Dame hosted Duke last weekend it was the highest viewership for an Irish afternoon opener in 14 years. Details here!
You might not look at Duke as being a massive matchup on the football field but the nation saw it as the most compelling college football game last Saturday as the Notre Dame opener attracted 4.371 million viewers to the NBC telecast.
It was the most-viewed Notre Dame afternoon home opener since the Irish last welcomed Penn State to South Bend way back in 2006. It’s also the most-viewed Notre Dame home contest since the Fighting Irish battled Michigan in primetime to kickoff the 2018 season.
Let’s not get it confused as there weren’t a plethora of big-time matchups across college football last weekend and the Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC aren’t yet playing, but the 4.371 million viewers are the most to watch any college football game so far in the early parts of the unique 2020 season.
Game 7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets series gave NBA ratings a boost, averaging the most viewers since play returned.
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Game 7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets series gave the NBA a major boost in TV ratings.
The game, which averaged 4.11 million viewers, was the most-watched opening round playoff game on cable in two years, trailing the 6.07 million average who tuned into the Game 4 of the Cavaliers vs. Pacers 2018 series, according to Sports Media Watch.
It was ESPN’s most-watched opening round game in three years. Wednesday’s game, the first opening round Gamy 7 that ESPN has aired since 2003, had the best viewership since Game 3 of the 2017 Golden State Warriors vs. Portland Trail Blazers series that attracted 4.38 million viewers.
The Thunder and Rockets Game 7, which matchup up Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook against their respective former teams, had much higher ratings than the other Game 7 that took place in the first round, the Utah Jazz vs. Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets victory averaged 3.39 million viewers Tuesday on ABC.
Oklahoma City’s Game 7 also had better viewership than last year’s only first-round Game 7. That games, a Spurs vs. Nuggets matchup on a Saturday night on TNT, averaged 3.49 million viewers. The Thunder increased this by 18%.
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This Thunder and Rockets game was the most-watched since NBA play came back, even with some people on social media saying the protests last week caused them to stop watching games.
It had the best audience for an NBA game since the Los Angeles Lakers’ January 31 game against the Trail Blazers, which was the Lakers’ first game back following the death of Kobe Bryant
Outside the NBA, the Thunder and Rockets game had the best sports audience since the NFL Draft that took place in April.
It topped the MLB opener featuring the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals that averaged 4.01 million viewers.
It was the most-watched opening round NBA playoff game on cable in two years, and the top-rated first-round game on ESPN in three years.
According to Sports Media Watch, Wednesday night’s Game 7 between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder was the most-watched opening round NBA playoff game on cable television in two years. It was also the top-rated first-round game on ESPN in three years.
The Rockets-Thunder Game 7 was the largest audience for any NBA game on any network since January 31, 2020. That January game was the first for the Los Angeles Lakers following the death of Kobe Bryant, and it was lifted by an extensive pregame ceremony in front of home fans.
Here’s how Sports Media Watch summarizes the Game 7 data:
Wednesday’s Thunder-Rockets Game 7 averaged 4.11 million viewers on ESPN, marking the most-watched opening round playoff game on cable in two years (2018 Cavaliers-Pacers Game 4: 6.07M) and the most-watched on ESPN in three (2017 Warriors-Blazers Game 3: 4.38M).
Houston’s narrow win delivered the largest NBA audience since Blazers-Lakers on January 31 (4.41M), comfortably topping the previous mark of 3.83 million for Lakers-Blazers Game 3 on ABC August 22.
Viewership increased 17% over the comparable window of last year’s playoffs, Game 2 of a Blazers-Nuggets second round series on TNT (3.51M). Last year’s game aired exclusively on TNT, while this year’s game co-existed with RSN coverage in both Houston and Oklahoma City.
The Thunder-Rockets figure was up by 18% relative to Game 7 of the 2019 first-round series between Denver and San Antonio. That was the only seventh game in the opening round a season ago.
Thunder-Rockets Game 7 most-watched NBA game since January 31, most-watched first round game on cable since 2018, most-watched first round game on ESPN since 2017.
Five of 11 most-watched NBA games since 7/30 restart have come since suspension of play: https://t.co/PFYjY3mKoO
Per Sports Media Watch, Rockets-Thunder Game 7 easily won the night among key young adult demographics (for advertisers). In all, five of the NBA’s 11 most-watched games since the 2019-20 season’s July 30 restart have come since the three-day suspension of play last week, which occurred due to racial justice protests by players.
Some politicians had suggested that the movement was causing some viewers to tune out. While the true ratings picture won’t become clear until later in the playoffs, the Thunder-Rockets number is certainly an encouraging interim signal to the NBA that its large audience is still there.
Thunder-#Rockets Game 7 had a 5.9 Nielsen rating in Houston on ESPN and was viewed by an average audience of 236,000 viewers. Numbers aren't available for @ATTSportsNetSW because the game was on the alternate channel.
The lofty Rockets-Thunder figure of 4.11 million viewers on ESPN did outdraw the 3.39 million average for Game 7 between Denver and Utah on the previous night (on ABC). That could suggest that some of the ratings bump was attributable to the higher star power of the Houston vs. Oklahoma City series, which featured three future Hall of Famers in James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Chris Paul.
It could also bode well for the impending second-round series between the Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers, which begins Friday night. That battle features teams from two of the four largest U.S. cities, as well as four All-Stars and headliners in Harden, Westbrook, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis. All that should make for a very captive audience.
Beyond the players, Oklahoma City is actually the NBA’s second-smallest market, which could make room for an even larger ratings bump once they’re swapped out in favor of Los Angeles.
In another national ESPN broadcast, Game 1 of the Rockets-Lakers series at the NBA “bubble” tips off at 8:00 p.m. Central on Friday.
Also, the connection between QB Ben DiNucci and coach Mike McCarthy, a possible cornerback-to-safety plan in the team’s secondary, and more.
Another NFL Draft has come and gone and while most teams walk away from the weekend feeling good about the picks and moves made, fans’ mileage may vary. In the case of Cowboys Nation, the optimism is off the charts for 2020, with seven players selected across three days at what was seen almost universally as tremendous value.
But with all the tracking of picks, crunching highlight reels, filling needs, digesting players’ backstories, and sorting out new jersey numbers, there were several Dallas-centric tidbits that fans may have missed. So here you go, Cowboys fans: a conveniently-sized six-count of the very best draft nuggets.
Jerry’s floating war room
Among the tidbits of minutiae that many Cowboys fans were wringing their hands over leading into the first round? The social distancing policies seemingly suggesting that owner Jerry Jones would be completely on his own to conduct the weekend’s draft unchecked. Many thought back to 2014’s draft, when Jones was reportedly salivating over bringing Johnny Manziel to Dallas and, according to one version of the story, had the selection card swiped from his hand by son Stephen when the rest of the war room wanted to take Zack Martin.
The mental image of Jerry sitting home alone and going rogue with the 2020 picks was a genuine concern… until the first live pictures of Jones popped up on TV screens. Suddenly the story turned from, “Who is Jerry picking?” to, “Where is Jerry picking from?”
Sure enough, as confirmed by some quick internet-sleuthing, Jones was aboard his 357-foot superyacht, which he purchased in late 2018/early 2019 and named Bravo Eugenia after his wife Gene.
Yall realize Jerry's draft room is…on his SUPER YACHT?
Just a reminder to the rest of the NFL – you ain't never keepin' up with the Joneses. pic.twitter.com/MAH2Fb8RfK
Along with the five-star resort pad belonging to Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury and the shockingly humble homebase where New England’s Bill Belichick (and his dog) were set up, Jones’s floating headquarters became the talk of the first round.
It would have been easy to accuse Jones of phoning in the 2020 Draft- both literally and figuratively- if the picks made from the party barge had been colossal washouts. But after a ridiculous haul that consistently netted players rated above (and sometimes way above) where Dallas actually landed them, most Cowboys fans were ready to have Jerry set sail each and every April from now on.
In the latest TV ratings, ABC’s coverage of the socially distanced 2020 NFL Draft kickoff dominated the Thursday prime time ratings.
In the latest TV ratings, ABC’s coverage of the socially distanced 2020 NFL Draft kickoff dominated the Thursday prime time ratings and helped fill a void for the American sports-deprived audience.
Ratings set a record for the event, with more than 15.6 million viewers tuning in to opening night across ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes and their digital channels. Helped by sports fans starved for action amid the coronavirus shutdown, the total broke the previous record for the first night of the draft, which had been 12.4 million viewers in 2014.
Last night’s numbers were up 37% over last year’s 11.4 million total viewers, with coverage of the virtual event peaking between 8:45-9:oo PM ET with 19.6 million viewers watching LSU and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow’s selection by the Cincinnati Bengals with the first pick.
Originating from ESPN’s Bristol, CT studios, and conducted mostly from the basement of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s Bronxville, NY home, drafted players were live on video, typically at home with family members.
Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas was the first lineman selected when he went fourth overall to the New York Giants. He was followed by line-mate Isaiah Wilson, who went to the Tennessee Titans with the 29th pick.
The draft continues Friday at 7pm with rounds two and three and rounds four through seven on Saturday at noon on ESPN and the NFL Networks.
Everyone knows that the XFL has seen a ratings’ dip. The numbers bear it out and there’s no argument that the numbers aren’t great. If that’s the case then logic would say that other sporting events should be trying to have viewership numbers better …
Everyone knows that the XFL has seen a ratings’ dip. The numbers bear it out and there’s no argument that the numbers aren’t great. If that’s the case then logic would say that other sporting events should be trying to have viewership numbers better than what the XFL is offering. In fact, if the XFL is leading into said sporting event, it should have at least the same amount of viewers, maybe more. Yet, we know that didn’t happen and that should be a concern. See, the XFL was on ABC and it led directly to the NFL Draft Combine. Yes, the same combine that is the next big thing for the NFL when it comes to its revenue growth models — outside of adding more regular season and playoff games obviously. The combine is supposed to be the next version of the NFL Draft. It’s supposed to be a big show. It’s supposed to move around the country. People are supposed to tune in and watch. That didn’t happen. NFL Draft Combine ratings were up only three-percent from last year.
The NFL even moved the combine to primetime. It definitely did not move the combine for a paltry three percent increase in viewership. It made the move because it was supposed to be the next step for monetizing the workouts. The problem is that it didn’t even outrate the NFL.
There are other problems associated with moving the combine. Some players didn’t perform as well due to the scheduling. That’s unfair to the players. Agents should be a bit angry that the NFL moved the combine to get more interest and expose more viewers to the ins and outs of the NFL Draft process and all their players got was this lousy t-shirt — and some bad numbers for scouts and coaches to question which could cause players to drop in the draft and therefore lose money.
Maybe this is a learning experience for the NFL. They probably need to figure out a way to market the event better. They need something to make it more exciting because fans can only watch so many players run in a straight line in workout gear until they get the point. Only the real diehards are looking at players run three-cone drills, test their vertical leap and make broad jumps. Most fans don’t even know what’s good and what’s bad.
This could be the start of something. The league and television partner — ESPN/ABC in this case — may be thinking that this year was a test-run and next year there will be more viewers. Maybe next year, they will add some excitement, more graphics, something to make it must-see television. Three percent increases won’t do it for the league. Ratings worse than the XFL isn’t what the NFL wants. If the combine is the next big thing, then they need to figure out how to make it more watchable.
(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) The XFL could be going into a rough weekend for ratings. Viewership has dropped consistently from the first week to the third week and now things may go haywire. The good news is that at least the Saturday …
(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
The XFL could be going into a rough weekend for ratings. Viewership has dropped consistently from the first week to the third week and now things may go haywire. The good news is that at least the Saturday games are on broadcast television, but a confluence of factors could lead to some bad numbers.
Momentum
An object in motion tends to stay in motion. The motion of these ratings isn’t a good sign for the XFL. They are down over 50 percent from Week 1 to Week 3. We don’t know what bottom is so we can’t say things will be fine. Ratings could drop like the stock market looking for support.
We probably won’t know where the bottom is this week because it’s particularly difficult for some other reasons.
Also, Jerry speaks from Indy, Leighton Vander Esch’s injury, David Irving’s possible return, elite pass rushers, and a pumped-up punter.
Questions about if and when the current CBA’s tag structure will change have kickstarted talks between the Cowboys and two of their high-profile free agents. But Jerry Jones still found an hour-plus to spill the tea on a variety of topics- including his recent shower thoughts- to the media assembled in Indianapolis. Mike McCarthy also held court at the combine and provided a sneak peek at what the 2020 Cowboys may look like.
All that plus news on Leighton Vander Esch’s injury recovery, David Irving’s possible reinstatement, and Dak Prescott’s self-appointed advisory committee. There’s also linkage to elite pass rushing options, the Great Dallas Interception Drought, the ratings bonanza that is America’s Team… and a punter showing off his guns. Here’s the News and Notes.
Now that the Cowboys know that using a transition tag on Amari Cooper will likely only result in them having to rescind it if a new collective bargaining agreement is approved, contract talks with wideout Amari Cooper’s camp have taken on a new sense of urgency. The two sides met Thursday evening in Indianapolis; a Byron Jones conversation is also on the immediate itinerary.
In a wide-ranging 80-minute sit-down aboard the team bus, the big boss dished on Byron Jones’s status, Jason Witten’s future, Robert Quinn’s “real deal”-ness, Dak Prescott’s familial standing with him and Jimmy Johnson in the Ring of Honor.
One notable thing the Cowboys defense has lacked is turnovers. It’s a mystery that has seemed to plague this unit for years, and one that needs to change in 2020.
Last season’s 8-8 record notwithstanding, the Cowboys are anything but mediocre in the Nielsen numbers. One industry insider theorizes that a Super Bowl appearance would be an absolute record-breaker.
Why are the Cowboys called "America's Team?"
Because in 2019, 32% of the 25 highest rated TV Programs in America featured The Dallas Cowboys.
They're what America cares about.
— The Big D Rusty Shackleford アダム (@TwoBitWhackJob) February 25, 2020
The Arizona State punter, who recently made a list of punters the Cowboys should consider drafting, may have improved his stock Thursday night when he absolutely smoked the 225-pound bench press in Indianapolis. Michael Turk’s 25 reps were better than all 33 wide receivers and all but one tight end who participated.
XFL Week 3 ratings dropped from Week 2 ratings which dropped from Week 1 ratings. Where is the bottom?
When the AAF had great ratings for its first week, a lot of people overreacted to the news and said a new era of extra football had begun. Then the AAF flamed out miserably and was the subject of many a long-form commentary. The XFL had some really strong numbers when it came to viewership in its first week and I am happy to report it seems like we all learned our lesson. Everyone seemed to wait with bated breath to find out what XFL ratings would look like in Week 2 and Week 3. Unfortunately for the XFL, the answer seems to be: not great.
Week 3 of the XFL averaged 1.61 million viewers across ABC, Fox, ESPN, FS1 (first weekend to have two games on cable TV) https://t.co/0sCbpGO0Ht
Now, here is the silver lining. The XFL had two games on cable this weekend and ratings are always lower on cable because people either don’t have access to it — mostly by choice, but sometimes by circumstance — so they had to expect that ratings would dip since half the games weren’t on broadcast.
The problem is that they’ve now lost almost half of their Week 1 viewers. The product doesn’t seem to be sticking. There needs to be a bottom, but we don’t know where that bottom is.
The easy answer would be to simply try and get more games on broadcast networks, but it doesn’t work that way. The XFL can’t simply tell television distributors what to do to boost league viewership numbers. They can ask. After all, the XFL is probably still doing better numbers than traditional shows, but that doesn’t mean their TV partners will comply. Cable channels need their schedules filled as well and the XFL is the perfect filler.
The real issue is that the XFL may be in a battle with perception. The more ratings drop, the more it looks like the league is struggling. The more it looks like the league is struggling, the less likely fans will be willing to invest their time and effort into finding games and watching them all the way through. That leads to even lower ratings. It’s a circular self-fulfilling prophecy. By the way, the XFL has seven more weeks in its season. There has to be a bottom, but we just don’t know where it is yet.
The good news is that if the league can hold on and get to the playoffs, people will watch — if for novelty reasons only. Once the league lasts a year, it can start to gain more traction and viewers will feel more comfortable investing that time, effort, and hopefully money. It could be a bumpy seven weeks, but the goal should be to hold out for as long as possible. That all depends on how much money the league plans to use in the process of staying alive.
Oklahoma City’s rating this year is 3.16. Despite the drop, it’s still a top-five team in the league, according to a graphic tweeted by Ethan Strauss.
Part of the reason this drop has happened could be on-court, despite the Thunder having a near-identical All-Star break record (34-21 this season vs. 37-20 last year). Without Russell Westbrook and Paul George, there isn’t the same amount of star power. Fans aren’t risking out on missing a 40-point triple-double if they take a night off watching.
A bigger reason is likely the contract dispute between Fox Sports Oklahoma and the Dish Network. Even some fans who do want to watch every night are unable to.
A third reason, and maybe the most likely, remains a mystery. The drop is happening league-wide.
Fourteen teams’ ratings dropped at the All-Star break, according to the SBJ.
The San Antonio Spurs have the best rating at 3.51. In 2017-18, the Spurs had the third-highest rating — at 6.45.
There are lots of theories for why ratings are dropping. There are more cord-cutters and people watching live streams.
Kevin Durant is injured. Steph Curry is injured. Zion Williamson missed half the season.
LeBron James is on a team that naturally has a big market, so the Cleveland Cavaliers ratings have decreased more the last two years than the Los Angeles Lakers are up.
Maybe viewers dislike the style of play today enough that they’re content just watching game highlights. Maybe there’s too much stoppage with foul calls.
Point is, ratings are down, as the SBJ found, and the Thunder were not spared.
