If you would like to ask about or request ratings for a program or event on these networks, please reach Douglas on Twitter @SonOfTheBronx.

Ratings News and Notes

  • TBS Network’s coverage of non-exclusive Sunday afternoon “Major League Baseball” for 2017 started on a welcome note with the sport’s top national ratings draw, the Chicago Cubs. Despite their season’s struggles, the Cubs’ game versus the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 9 registered 409,000 viewers and 157,000 adults 18-49 to markets outside of Chicago and Pittsburgh. This marked increases of 35 percent (in total viewers) and 23 percent (in adults 18-49) from the year-ago opener of Nationals-Mets (July 10, 2016: 302,000 viewers/128,000 adults 18-49).

    Ratings were not as positive for the Cubs in the Chicago TV market on their regional cable sports network CSN Chicago. Granted, its 3.6 average (about 125,000 Chicago TV households) over 42 games on the regional network is second-best within the past seven years, but waa noticeably down from last year’s figures which generated a 4.5 on CSN Chicago for the entire 2016 season. (Source: Crain’s Chicago Business)

  • Current American League playoff contenders Houston Astros, Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees all rose in each of their respective TV markets.

    The Yankees on YES in the New York market enjoyed its greatest first-half viewership in five years (343,000 average Total Viewers in 2017, vs. 370,000 in 2012). Year-over-year, viewership waa up 57 percent (343,000 vs. 219,000), adults 18-49 by 73 percent, adults 25-54 by 57 percent, males 18-49 by 71 percent, and males 25-54 by 49 percent. (Source: YES)

    The league-leading Astros have averaged a 3.04 local rating (74,504 households) on Houston’s Root Sports Southwest through July 9, up from 2.67 (63,378 households) at the 2016 break, representing a 13.8 percent ratings increase and a 17.6 percent increase in households from last year. The Astros’ 10-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on July 5 delivered a 4.72 local rating on Root, the highest cable mark of 2017 in Houston to-date. (Source: Crain’s Chicago Business)

    The Indians are averaging a 7.52 household rating on SportsTime Ohio, up 32 percent through 87 games last season. The defending American League champions are on pace to reach their highest marks since 2001, when they drew a 9.94 household rating. Their series-opening victory against the Detroit Tigers on July 7 ranked as their highest-rated game in Cleveland since their home opener this season (Apr. 11 vs. White Sox), with a 12.34 local household rating. (Source: Cleveland Plain-Dealer)

    One of the National League teams also saw its local numbers rebound from last year. The Atlanta Braves’ telecasts on Fox Sports South and Fox Sports Southeast have averaged a 2.0 Nielsen rating (approx. 48,000 households) in the Atlanta TV market so far this season, up about 50 percent from the first-half rating in 2016 (1.35 rating; 32,000 households). The mark nearly matches its 2015 first-half returns (2.03 rating). The Braves’ highest-rated game so far this season was their April 14 home opener at SunTrust Park (a 5-2 win vs. San Diego Padres), which posted a 5.0 rating (about 120,000 homes) in the Atlanta market. (Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution)

  • MLB Network’s live baseball game action (not counting look-in coverage during “MLB Tonight”) for July 3-8 averaged 238,000 viewers and 59,000 adults 18-49 from the 12 game showcase telecasts, down 8 percent (in viewers) and down 15 percent (in adults 18-49) from the year-ago week (July 4-9, 2016: average of 258,000 viewers/69,000 adults 18-49 from 14 telecasts): also, down 15 percent (in viewers) from two years ago (July 7-11, 2015: average of 281,000 viewers from 8 telecasts).

  • The MLB Futures Game from Miami, Fla. on July 9 on MLB Network drew 216,000 viewers, down 13 percent from last year’s game (July 10, 2016: 248,000 viewers) and down 15 percent from two years ago (July 12, 2015: 255,000 viewers).

  • Golf Channel’s tournaments coverage from July 6-9:

    • PGA Tour: Greenbrier Classic (July 6-9; Golf Channel only): 512,000 viewers (-37 percent from July 2-5, 2015: 812,000 viewers)
    • LPGA Tour: Thornberry Creek Classic (July 6-9 early evenings): 225,000 viewers
    • European Tour: Irish Open (July 6-9 mornings): 128,000 viewers (-8 percent from May 19-22, 2016: 139,000 viewers)
    • Web.com Tour: LECOM Health Challenge (July 6-9 afternoons): 134,000 viewers (-24 percent from July 7-10, 2016: 176,000 viewers)

2014-new-golfchannel-logo

Golf Channel Top 25 (and Select) Programs

Golf Channel ratings for July 3-9, 2017
Click on image grid for larger view

In total viewership for its entire week in Prime Time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), Golf Channel is up +7 percent (126,000 vs. 118,000) from one week earlier and up +22 percent (126,000 vs. 103,000) from the same week one year ago (July 4-10, 2016).

In total viewership for its entire week in Total Day (6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.), Golf Channel is up +24 percent (115,000 vs. 93,000) from one week earlier and up +28 percent (115,000 vs. 90,000) from the same week one year ago (July 4-10, 2016).

Viewership averages for the following daily Golf Channel programs of the week:

  • “The Morning Drive” (July 3-5 & 8-9 7 a.m.): 25,000 viewers (8,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Golf Central” (July 3-5 6 p.m.): 65,000 viewers (20,000 adults 18-49)

mlbn

MLB Network Top 25 (and Select) Programs

MLB Network ratings for July 3-9, 2017
Click on image grid for larger view

In total viewership for its entire week in Prime Time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), MLB Network is down -29 percent (158,000 vs. 222,000) from one week earlier and down -28 percent (158,000 vs. 219,000) from the same week one year ago (July 4-10, 2016).

In total viewership for its entire week in Total Day (6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.), MLB Network is up +3 percent (113,000 vs. 110,000) from one week earlier and down -13 percent (113,000 vs. 130,000) from the same week one year ago (July 4-10, 2016).

Viewership averages for the following MLB Network programs of the week:

  • “MLB Central” (July 5-7 10 a.m.): 51,000 (21,000 adults 18-49)
  • “High Heat” (July 5-7): 58,000 (14,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Rundown” (July 5): 173,000 (43,000 adults 18-49)
  • <!–

  • “MLB Now” (June 26-27 & 30): 63,000 (21,000 adults 18-49)
  • –>

  • “Intentional Talk” (June 3 & 5-6): 130,000 (39,000 adults 18-49)
  • “MLB Tonight BP” (July 3-7): 132,000 (49,000 adults 18-49)
  • “MLB Tonight” (July 3-8 prime time): 122,000 (49,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Quick Pitch” (July 3-9): 75,000 (33,000 adults 18-49)

Major League Baseball: Pittsburgh Pirates @ Chicago Cubs (TBS, July 9 1:00-4:31 p.m.): 409,000 viewers (157,000 adults 18-49)

nflnetworklogo

NFL Network Top 25 (and Select) Programs

NFL Network ratings for July 3-9, 2017
Click on image grid for larger view

In total viewership for its entire week in Prime Time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), NFL Network is up +24 percent (94,000 vs. 76.000) from one week earlier and up +27 percent (94,000 vs. 74,000) from the same week one year ago (July 4-10, 2016).

In total viewership for its entire week in Total Day (6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.), NFL Network is up +17 percent (63,000 vs. 54,000) from one week earlier and up +26 percent (63,000 vs. 50,000) from the same week one year ago (July 4-10, 2016).

Viewership averages for the following daily NFL Network programs of the week:

  • “Good Morning Football” (July 4-7 7 a.m.): 31,000 (15,000 adults 18-49)
  • “NFL Total Access” (July 3-7 7 p.m.): 84,000 (40,000 adults 18-49)
  • “NFL Total Access” (July 3-8 11 p.m.): 65,000 (29,000 adults 18-49)

nbatvlogo

NBA TV Top 25 (and Select) Programs

NBA TV ratings for July 3-9, 2017
Click on image grid for larger view

In total viewership for its entire week in Prime Time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), NBA TV is up +75 percent (124,000 vs. 71,000) from one week earlier and up +6 percent (124,000 vs. 117,000) from the same week one year ago (July 4-10, 2016).

In total viewership for its entire week in Total Day (6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.), NBA TV is up +57 percent (72,000 vs. 46,000) from one week earlier and up +4 percent (72,000 vs. 69,000) from the same week one year ago (July 4-10, 2016).

Viewership averages for the following daily NBA-TV programs of the week:

  • “The Starters” (July 7-9): 76,000 viewers (41,000 adults 18-49)

2017 NBA Awards (TNT, June 26 9:00-11:22 p.m.) 1,786,000 viewers (976,000 adults 18-49)

tennis-channel-logo

Tennis Channel

In total viewership for its entire week in Prime Time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), Tennis Channel is up +462 percent (146,000 vs. 26,000) from one week earlier.

In total viewership for its entire week in Total Day (6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.), Tennis Channel is up +195 percent (62,000 vs. 21,000) from one week earlier.

__________________________________________________

WWE-Network-3009089

WWE Raw

Monday, July 3, 2017 on USA Network

8-11:10 p.m.: 2.839 million total viewers and 1.182 million adults 18-49
-5% from 2.980 million total viewers and -12% from 1.340 million adults 18-49 on 6/26/17
+7% from 2.657 million total viewers and -0.4% from 1.187 million adults 18-49 on 7/04/16

8-9 p.m.: 1.66 household rating, 2.828 million total viewers and 1.139 million adults 18-49
-2% from 2.891 million total viewers and -13% from 1.313 million adults 18-49 on 6/26/17
+6% from 2.663 million total viewers and +2% from 1.118 million adults 18-49 on 7/04/16

9-10 p.m.: 1.70 household rating, 2.916 million total viewers and 1.217 million adults 18-49
-6% from 3.096 million total viewers and -12% from 1.389 million adults 18-49 on 6/26/17
+9% from 2.668 million total viewers and +2% from 1.189 million adults 18-49 on 7/04/16

10-11:10 p.m.: 1.57 household rating, 2.783 million total viewers and 1.190 million adults 18-49
-6% from 2.955 million total viewers and -10% from 1.320 million adults 18-49 on 6/26/17
+5% from 2.643 million total viewers and -4% from 1.245 million adults 18-49 on 7/04/16

Reruns on NBC Universo

Fri. July 7 8-11 p.m.: 44,000 total viewers (16,000 adults 18-49)
Late Fri. July 7/Early Sat. July 8 12-3 a.m.: 11,000 total viewers (7,000 adults 18-49)

WWE SmackDown

Tuesday, July 4, 2017 on USA

8-10 p.m.: 1.36 household rating, 2.332 million total viewers and 0.966 million adults 18-49
-11% from 2.607 million total viewers and -9% from 1.064 million adults 18-49 on USA 6/27/17
+4% from 2.241 million total viewers and +12% from 0.860 million adults 18-49 on USA 7/05/16

Reruns on NBC Universo

Sat. July 8 10 p.m.-12 a.m.: 83,000 total viewers (30,000 adults 18-49)
Late Sat. July 8/Early Sun. July 9 2-4 a.m.: 2,000 total viewers (1,000 adults 18-49)

impactlogo

Impact Wrestling (Pop, July 6 8:00-10:00 p.m.): 345,000 total viewers (95,000 adults 18-49)

Powernation: Extreme Off Road (Spike, July 9 9:00-9:30 a.m.): 199,000 viewers (92,000 adults 18-49)
Powernation: Engine Power (Spike, July 9 9:30-10:00 a.m.): 317,000 viewers (138,000 adults 18-49)
Powernation: Truck Tech (Spike, July 9 10:00-10:30 a.m.): 296,000 viewers (128,000 adults 18-49)
Powernation: Detroit Muscle (Spike, July 9 10:30-11:00 a.m.): 301,000 viewers (109,000 adults 18-49)

NWSL Pregame (Lifetime, July 8 3:30-3:50 p.m.): 258,000 viewers (108,000 adults 18-49)
NWSL Soccer: Orlando Pride @ Washington Spirit (Lifetime, July 8 3:50-6:00 p.m.): 123,000 viewers (63,000 adults 18-49)

Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research

About Douglas Pucci

Douglas Pucci is a contributor to Programming Insider and blogger at Son of the Bronx.