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Ratings News and Notes
The good news for the UFC: the 26th Fox broadcast network edition of “UFC Fight Night” featuring Rafael dos Anjos’ unanimous decision over Robbie Lawler, attracted an average of 2.107 million viewers. This ranks as the second most-watched mixed martial arts telecast of 2017, behind only UFC on Fox 23 from January (2.189 million). The peak of the show was the last three rounds of the main event, which averaged 3.071 million viewers. (Source: MMA Fighting) The not-so-good news: all four ‘UFC Fight Night’ events on Fox in 2017 make up four of the five least-watched of its editions on broadcast television. It indicates a downward trend for the UFC as they near a new TV contract deal – prior to Aug. 27, 2016, not one ‘UFC Fight Night’ telecast had ever averaged below 2.38 million viewers.
All-Star San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard has missed most NBA action so far this season but that hasn’t decreased interest for his team within the San Antonio market. The Spurs have averaged a 6.41 household rating through 21 games on its regional sports network Fox Sports Southwest. Although the percentage increase from the start of 2016-17 isn’t definitive, — a technical glitch by Nielsen resulted in a miscalculation of a 5.2 average last fall — it does parallel the boosts in national viewership for the league this year. (Source: Laredo Morning Times)
All-star NBA player Paul George departed the Indiana Pacers in the offseason but its home TV market are still tuning in to the team, which began the 2017-18 season with a decent 16-12 record. Pacers telecasts on Fox Sports Indiana are averaging a 3.4 household rating for the first 28 games of 2017-18 thru Dec. 13, equaling about 35,000 central Indiana households — up 20 percent from the same point last year. The Pacers rank as the sixth-highest TV ratings of the 30 NBA teams’ regional broadcasts. Also, the streaming audience for Pacers games through the Fox Sports Go app is up 107 percent year over year. The positive ratings growth offsets the 9.2 percent yearly decline in home attendance. (Sources: Indianapolis Business Journal, ESPN)
NBCSN Top 25 (and Select) Programs
Week of Dec. 11-17, 2017
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In total viewership for its entire week in Prime Time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), NBCSN is up 14.46 percent (190,000 vs. 166,000) from one week earlier and down 5.47 percent (190,000 vs. 201,000) from the same week one year ago (December 12-18, 2016).
In total viewership for its entire week in Total Day (6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.), NBCSN is down 4.17 percent (92,000 vs. 96,000) from one week earlier and down 10.68 percent (92,000 vs. 103,000) from the same week one year ago (December 12-18, 2016).
Viewership averages for the following NBCSN programs of the week:
- “Pro Football Talk AM” (NBCSN, Dec. 11-15): 26,000 (7,000 adults 18-49)
- “Dan Patrick Show” (NBCSN, Dec. 11-15): 67,000 (16,000 adults 18-49)
Premier League: Newcastle vs. Arsenal (CNBC, Dec. 16 10:00 a.m.-12:01 p.m.): 173,000 viewers (87,000 adults 18-49)
Fox Sports 1 Top 25 (and Select) Programs
Week of Dec. 11-17, 2017
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In total viewership for its entire week in Prime Time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), FS1 is down 29.33 percent (147,000 vs. 208,000) from one week earlier and down 5.77 percent (147,000 vs. 156,000) from the same week one year ago (December 12-18, 2016).
In total viewership for its entire week in Total Day (6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.), FS1 is down 24.56 percent (86,000 vs. 114,000) from one week earlier and up 6.17 percent (86,000 vs. 81,000) from the same week one year ago (December 12-18, 2016).
Viewership averages for the following FS1 programs of the week:
- “First Things First” (FS1, Dec. 11-15): 43,000 (22,000 adults 18-49)
- “Skip & Shannon: Undisputed” (FS1, Dec. 11-15): 153,000 (77,000 adults 18-49)
- “The Herd” (FS1, Dec. 11-15): 109,000 (49,000 adults 18-49)
- “Speak for Yourself” (FS1, Dec. 11-15): 67,000 (28,000 adults 18-49)
- “TMZ Sports” (FS1, Dec. 11-15): 62,000 (21,000 adults 18-49)
- “Yesterday Today” (FS1, Dec. 12-15): 23,000 (13,000 adults 18-49)
Fox Sports 2 Top 25 (and Select) Programs
Week of Dec. 11-17, 2017
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In total viewership for its entire week in Prime Time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), FS2 is even (24,000 vs. 24,000) from one week earlier and up 20.00 percent (24,000 vs. 20,000) from the same week one year ago (December 12-18, 2016).
In total viewership for its entire week in Total Day (6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.), FS2 is up 5.56 percent (19,000 vs. 18,000) from one week earlier and up 11.76 percent (19,000 vs. 17,000) from the same week one year ago (December 12-18, 2016).
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
