Ratings Roundup: 2019 NFL Hall of Fame Game Hits 22-Year Low; Yanks-Sox Grab Highest Number on YES

Ratings Roundup: 2019 NFL Hall of Fame Game Hits 22-Year Low; Yanks-Sox Grab Highest Number on YES By Kristian Hernandez, Associate Editor

Thursday, August 8, 2019 - 9:50 am

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Ratings roundup is a rundown of rating news from the past week and is derived from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week's edition, the NFL Hall of Fame extends the streak of low numbers, last week's Yankees-Red Sox matchup hits top spot on YES, NASCAR in Watkins Glen plummets to a two-decade low, Women's British Open sets new 13-year high, ESPN's racing coverage receives mixed reviews, Fox PBC Heavyweight becomes most-watched event on Saturday, and ESPN sees increases in July.

Pro Football Hall of Fame Game Posts Lowest Number Since 1997

According to SportsMediaWatch, Thursday's Broncos-Falcons Pro Football Hall of Fame Game averaged a 3.4 rating and 5.33 million viewers on NBC, down 17% in ratings and 21% in viewership from last year (Bears-Ravens: 4.1, 6.77M) and down 32% and 35% respectively from 2017 (Cowboys-Cardinals: 5.0, 8.25M).

The Broncos' win ranked as the lowest-rated and least-watched Hall of Fame Game since it last aired on NFL Network in 2012 (Saints-Cardinals: 1.2, 1.97M).

Excluding the 2007 and 2012 games on NFL Network, it was the lowest-rated Hall of Fame Game since at least 1996. The previous low was a 3.9 for Vikings-Seahawks in 1997.

As noted by Sports Business Daily writer Austin Karp, it also ranks as the least-watched since that 1997 game (4.9M).

YES Finds New Ratings Summit With Yankees-Red Sox

Friday night's Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees telecast on YES averaged a 4.60 TV Household rating (431,000 average TV Viewers), making it YES' highest-rated and most-watched Yankees telecast since its August 2nd, 2018 Red Sox-Yankees telecast, which did a 4.61 TV Household rating.

The game peaked at a 5.64 rating during the 9:45-10:00 pm quarter-hour (541,000 Total Viewers).

NASCAR at Watkins Glen Dips to 1999 Low

Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race from Watkins Glen (N.Y.) averaged a 1.7 rating and 2.72 million viewers on NBCSN, down 26% in both measures from last year on the NBC broadcast network (2.3, 3.67M), and down 15% and 16% respectively from 2017 on NBCSN (2.0, 3.25M).

Chase Elliott s win ranks as the lowest rated edition of the race since at least 1999 and the least-watched since at least 2001. The previous lows were set in 2017.

At the start of the decade in 2010, the race was significantly stronger at a 3.2 and 4.93 million.

Ratings and viewership were still respectable by 2019 standards. The race tied the highest rating of the season on cable and averaged the third-largest audience, behind New Hampshire two weeks earlier (1.7, 2.72M) and Bristol on FS1 in April (1.7, 2.81M) (SMW).

Women's British Open Supercedes Success Seen in 2006

Last Sunday's final round of the Women's British Open averaged a 0.85 rating and 1.19 million viewers on NBC, marking the most-watched round of the tournament since 2006 on ABC (1.6M). The previous high was 1.10 million on NBC in 2017.

The telecast, which peaked with 1.33 million from 1:30-1:45 PM ET, earned the second-largest women's golf audience of the year. The final round of April's Augusta National Women's Amateur was slightly higher (0.87 to 0.85; 1.194M to 1.186M).

Outside of the ANWA, no women's golf event has had a larger audience since the 2016 US Women's Open (1.31M). Ratings and viewership easily topped the final rounds of this year's US Women's Open (0.5, 728K), as well as the Women's PGA Championship (0.5, 718K) and ANA Inspiration (194K, rating n.a.).

Compared to last year, ratings increased 20% (from 0.7) and viewership 23% (from 964K). Third round coverage did not fare as well, averaging a 0.54 (-5%) and 702,000 (-5%) (SMW).

F1, Xfinity, NHRA Becomes Mixed Bag on ESPN

ESPN is averaging 667,000 viewers for Formula 1 coverage this season, up 19% from last year (560K) and up 21% from 2017 on the NBC family of networks (552K). Nine of the 12 races thus far have increased, including this past Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix - which drew a 0.34 rating (+13%) and 520,000 viewers (+18%) on ESPN2.

In other racing action, last weekend's NASCAR Xfinity Series race from Watkins Glen (N.Y.) pulled a 0.95 (-17%) and 1.47 million (-12%) on the NBC broadcast network. Though down from last year, it was the second-most-watched Xfinity Series race of the season. The Daytona opener had 1.53 million on FS1.

Meanwhile, NHRA racing is averaging 572,000 viewers on Fox Sports, according to Sports Business Daily, down 13% from last year (SMW).

Fox PBC Heavyweight Bout Punches Way to Saturday's Best

Saturday's Fox PBC Fight Night featuring Adam Kownacki defeating Chris Arreola averaged 1,727,000 viewers. The headliner would rank as the most-watched sports event of the day and peaked with 1,769,000 viewers from 10:45 p.m ET to the end of the fight.

The bout was up +38% over last year's comparable PBC event that delivered 942,000 viewers on August 4, 2018. The entire three-fight telecast delivered 1,301,000 viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research.

ESPN Scorches Ratings in July

ESPN enjoyed a hot July with viewership rising 18% over 2018, from 440,000 to 518,000 on a total day basis, according to Nielsen. This follows a June where ESPN experienced a 5% increase. In addition, ESPN2 was up 7% year over year for the month, from 148,000 to 159,000.

The ESPN increase led to the network leading all of cable for total day in the key male demos - 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 - and to lead in primetime among men 18-34 and men 18-49. ESPN's overall increase in primetime was 19%, from 745,000 to 883,000 including an increase of 33% for males 12-17.

Key drivers behind July's success were

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