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

  • HBO’s World Championship Boxing double bill on May 20 provided ratings dividends. Terence Crswford’s win over Felix Diaz in the night’s featured bout now ranks as the most-watched boxing bout on cable in 2017 thus far, averaging 961,000 viewers and peaking at 1.036 million viewers. The previous high was for Lomanchenko-Sosa back on Apr. 8 (832,000 viewers). Crawford also bested his most recent HBO appearance from Dec. 10, 2016 when he fought John Molina Jr. (871,000 viewers).

    The night’s earlier bout, Ray Beltran-Jonathan Maicelo (687,000 viewers; peaked at 723,000), outdrew each of HBO’s first two live main event bouts in 2017 — Miguel Berchelt-Francisco Vargas (Jan. 28: 497,000 viewers/peak at 549,000) and David Lemieux-Curtis Stevens (Mar. 11: 606,000 viewers/peak at 672,000) (Source: Boxing Scene)

  • The first three episodes of TNT’s annual basketball competition series The Dunk King, each of which aired in late night following coverage of a Conference Final game, averaged 1.477 million viewers and 855,000 adults 18-49, down 16 percent (in viewers) and down 15 percebt (among adults 18-49) from one year ago (May 16, 18 and 22, 2016: average of 1.764 million viewers/1.01 million adults 18-49). Despite the decline, this year’s “Dunk King” showed slightly better retention from its TNT NBA playoff lead-in than last year’s. The first three games of the Eastern Conference Finals — Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics — averaged 6.207 million viewers and 3.235 million adults 18-49, down 23 percent overall from the more competitive 2016 Western Conference Finals Games 1-3: Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (8.107 million viewers/4.178 million adults 18-49).

  • NBA-TV’s live post-game coverage after each conference final game in the 2017 NBA Playoffs from May 16-17 and 19-21 averaged 70,000 viewers, down 4 percent from the year-ago comparable post game coverages (74,000 viewers for May 17-19 and 21-22, 2016).

  • Golf Channel’s tournaments coverage from May 18-21:

    • PGA Tour: AT&T Byron Nelson (May 18-21 afternoons; Golf Channel only): 470,000 viewers (-19 percent from May 19-22, 2016: 580,000 viewers)
    • LPGA Tour: Kingsmill Championship (May 18-21 evenings): 178,000 viewers (-17 percent from May 19-22, 2016: 214,000 viewers)</li
    • European Tour: Rocco Forte Open (May 18-21 mornings): 32,000 viewers (formerly known as Sicilian Open)
    • Champions Tour: Regions Tradition (May 18-21): 176,000 viewers (+26 percent from May 19-22, 2016: 140,000 viewers)
    • Web.com Tour: BMW Charity Pro-Am (May 18-21 prime time): 97,000 viewers (-27 percent from May 19-22, 2016: 132,000 viewers)</li

NBA on TNT

NBA on TNT ratings for May 15-21 2017
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NBA TV Top 25 (and Select) Programs

NBA TV ratings for May 15-21 2017
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In total viewership for its entire week in Prime Time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), NBA TV is down -18 percent (50,000 vs. 61,000) from one week earlier and up +32 percent (50,000 vs. 38,000) from the same week one year ago (May 16-22, 2016).

In total viewership for its entire week in Total Day (6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.), NBA TV is up +2 percent (47,000 vs. 46,000) from one week earlier and down -2 percent (47,000 vs. 48,000) from the same week one year ago (May 16-22, 2016).

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

  • “The Starters” (May 15-19): 52,000 viewers (31,000 adults 18-49)
  • “NBA Gametime Live” (May 15 & 18): 82,000 viewers (36,000 adults 18-49)

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Golf Channel Top 25 (and Select) Programs

Golf Channel ratings for May 15-21 2017
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In total viewership for its entire week in Prime Time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), Golf Channel is down -36 percent (83,000 vs. 130,000) from one week earlier and down -25 percent (83,000 vs. 111,000) from the same week one year ago (May 16-22, 2016).

In total viewership for its entire week in Total Day (6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.), Golf Channel is down -41 percent (89,000 vs. 151,000) from one week earlier and down -26 percent (89,000 vs. 121,000) from the same week one year ago (May 16-22, 2016).

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

  • “The Morning Drive” (May 15-20 7 a.m.): 22,000 viewers (5,000 adults 18-49)
  • “The Morning Drive” (May 15-17 & 21 10 a.m.): 41,000 viewers (11,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Golf Central” (May 15-17 6 p.m.): 51,000 viewers (23,000 adults 18-49)

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MLB Network Top 25 (and Select) Programs

MLB Network ratings for May 15-21 2017
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In total viewership for its entire week in Prime Time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), MLB Network is down -27 percent (142,000 vs. 194,000) from one week earlier and down -17 percent (142,000 vs. 172,000) from the same week one year ago (May 16-22, 2016).

In total viewership for its entire week in Total Day (6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.), MLB Network is down -1 percent (94,000 vs. 95,000) from one week earlier and down -12 percent (94,000 vs. 107,000) from the same week one year ago (May 16-22, 2016).

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

  • “MLB Central” (May 15-19 10 a.m.): 38,000 (20,000 adults 18-49)
  • “High Heat” (May 15-16 & 18-19): 46,000 (22,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Rundown” (May 15-16): 35,000 (15,000 adults 18-49)
  • “MLB Now” (May 15-16): 61,000 (25,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Intentional Talk” (May 15-16 & 18-19): 83,000 (32,000 adults 18-49)
  • “MLB Tonight BP” (May 15-19): 101,000 (36,000 adults 18-49)
  • “MLB Tonight” (May 15-19 prime time): 118,000 (45,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Quick Pitch” (May 15-21): 69,000 (28,000 adults 18-49)

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NFL Network Top 25 (and Select) Programs

NFL Network ratings for May 15-21 2017
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In total viewership for its entire week in Prime Time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), NFL Network is down -6 percent (65,000 vs. 69,000) from one week earlier and down -18 percent (65,000 vs. 79,000) from the same week one year ago (May 16-22, 2016).

In total viewership for its entire week in Total Day (6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.), NFL Network is up +2 percent (53,000 vs. 52,000) from one week earlier and down -16 percent (53,000 vs. 63,000) from the same week one year ago (May 16-22, 2016).

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

  • “Good Morning Football” (May 15-19 7 a.m.): 30,000 (15,000 adults 18-49)
  • “NFL Total Access” (May 15-19 7 p.m.): 82,000 (41,000 adults 18-49)
  • “NFL Total Access” (Msy 15-20 11 p.m.): 66,000 (35,000 adults 18-49)

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Tennis Channel

In total viewership for its entire week in Prime Time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), Tennis Channel is up +3 percent (38,000 vs. 37,000) 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 +6 percent (38,000 vs. 36,000) from one week earlier.

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WWE Raw

Monday, May 15, 2017 on USA Network

8-9 p.m.: 1.68 household rating, 2.887 million total viewers and 1.309 million adults 18-49
+2% from 2.839 million total viewers and +6% from 1.231 million adults 18-49 on 5/08/17
-14% from 3.376 million total viewers and -7% from 1.411 million adults 18-49 on 5/16/16

9-10 p.m.: 1.63 household rating, 2.727 million total viewers and 1.212 million adults 18-49
-4% from 2.849 million total viewers and -1% from 1.229 million adults 18-49 on 5/08/17
-17% from 3.302 million total viewers and -15% from 1.432 million adults 18-49 on 5/16/16

10-11:09 p.m.: 1.57 household rating, 2.648 million total viewers and 1.229 million adults 18-49
+9% from 2.420 million total viewers and +11% from 1.109 million adults 18-49 on 5/08/17
-9% from 2.894 million total viewers and -5% from 1.295 million adults 18-49 on 5/16/16

Reruns on NBC Universo

Fri. May 19 8-11 p.m.: 53,000 total viewers (18,000 adults 18-49)

WWE SmackDown

Tuesday, May 16, 2017 on USA

8-10 p.m.: 1.29 household rating, 2.177 million total viewers and 0.875 million adults 18-49
-7% from 2.351 million total viewers and -8% from 0.952 million adults 18-49 on USA 5/09/17
-5% from 2.295 million total viewers and -1% from 0.883 million adults 18-49 on USA 5/20/16

Reruns on NBC Universo

Sat. May 20 10 p.m.-12 a.m.: 93,000 total viewers (38,000 adults 18-49)

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Impact Wrestling (Pop, May 18 8:00-10:00 p.m.): 272,000 total viewers (77,000 adults 18-49)

World Championship Boxing (HBO, May 20)

10:16 p.m.-10:25 p.m.: 605,000 viewers (289,000 adults 18-49)
10:25 p.m.-10:31 p.m. Beltran vs. Maicelo: 687,000 viewers (355,000 adults 18-49)
10:31 p.m.-11:01 p.m.: 760,000 viewers (398,000 adults 18-49)
11:01 p.m.-11:40 p.m. Crawford vs. Diaz: 961,000 viewers (477,000 adults 18-49)
11:40 p.m.-11:53 p.m.: 767,000 viewers (402,000 adults 18-49)

Showtime Championship Boxing (Showtime, May 20)

6:00 p.m.- 6:14 p.m.: 169,000 viewers (73,000 adults 18-49)
6:14 p.m.- 6:29 p.m. Gervonta Davis vs. Liam Walsh: 228,000 viewers (95,000 adults 18-49)
6:29 p.m.- 6:53 p.m.: 206,000 viewers (84,000 adults 18-49)
6:53 p.m.- 7:45 p.m. Rances Barthelemy vs. Kiryl Relikh: 267,000 viewers (110,000 adults 18-49)
7:45 p.m.- 7:56 p.m.: 284,000 viewers (123,000 adults 18-49)
7:56 p.m.- 8:39 p.m. Andre Dirrell vs. Jose Uzcategui: 354,000 viewers (144,000 adults 18-49)
8:39 p.m.- 8:51 p.m.: 377,000 viewers (141,000 adults 18-49)
8:51 p.m.- 9:20 p.m. Gary Russell Jr. vs. Oscar Escandon: 481,000 viewers (166,000 adults 18-49)
9:20 p.m.- 9:31 p.m.: 319,000 viewers (121,000 adults 18-49)

Bellator 179 MMA Live (Spike, May 19 9:00-9:30 a.m.): 607,000 viewers (302,000 adults 18-49)

Powernation: Extreme Off Road (Spike, May 21 9:00-9:30 a.m.): 264,000 viewers (87,000 adults 18-49)
Powernation: Engine Power (Spike, May 21 9:30-10:00 a.m.): 344,000 viewers (108,000 adults 18-49)
Powernation: Truck Tech (Spike, May 21 10:00-10:30 a.m.): 331,000 viewers (112,000 adults 18-49)
Powernation: Detroit Muscle (Spike, May 21 10:30-11:00 a.m.): 364,000 viewers (136,000 adults 18-49)

NWSL Pregame (Lifetime, May 20 3:30-4:00 p.m.): 173,000 viewers (61,000 adults 18-49)
NWSL Soccer: Houston Dash @ Sky Blue FC (Lifetime, May 20 4:00-6:00 p.m.): 100,000 viewers (50,000 adults 18-49)

E-League: Playoff Preview (TBS, May 19 10:00-11:00 p.m.): 330,000 viewers (177,000 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.