Formula 1 scored another viewership high at Singapore last weekend. Plus: a slight decline for the first round of the WNBA Playoffs; MLB on FOX saw a steep drop from last year’s Aaron Judge-fueled highs; fewer viewers for the Prefontaine Classic.
F1 Singapore GP latest to hit high; NASCAR low at Bristol
Last Sunday’s Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix averaged a 0.6 rating and 1.18 million viewers on ESPN, up 17% in ratings and 14% in viewership from last year on ESPN2 (0.54, 1.04M) and the largest live audience ever for the race. An “F1 Kids” simulcast on ESPNU chipped in an additional 23,000 to bring the audience up to 1.21 million.
Carlos Sainz’ win, which peaked with 1.35 million from 9:45-9:59 AM ET, was the seventh race this season to set a viewership record. F1 coverage is now averaging 1.20 million viewers on the ESPN networks, down 4% from the first 15 races last season (1.26M). All-but-three races have topped the million viewer mark.
In other racing action, last weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff race from Bristol (Tenn.) averaged a 0.9 and 1.56 million on USA Network, marking the least-watched edition of the race on record. Ratings fell 16% and viewership 12% from last year (1.1, 1.78M).
The NASCAR race only barely outdrew the following day’s NHRA Nationals on FOX, which aired adjacent to NFL coverage and averaged a 0.8 and 1.50 million — down 22% in ratings and 10% in viewership from last year (1.0, 1.68M).
WNBA first round down slightly from last year
The best-of-three first round of the WNBA Playoffs averaged 380,000 viewers across ESPN, ABC and ESPN2, down 3% from 392,000 last year, when games did not compete with the NFL season. Tuesday’s Mystics-Liberty Game 2 delivered the largest audience of the opening round with 501,000 viewers on ESPN, with its Dream-Wings lead-out placing second at 456,000.
The lone Game 3 of the first round, Sky-Lynx on ESPN Wednesday night, averaged 422,000 — trailing both of last year’s winner-take-all games (Sky-Liberty: 533K; Sun-Wings: 497K).
MLB on FOX sees big drop from Judge-induced high
Regional Major League Baseball action on FOX averaged 1.59 million viewers Thursday night, unsurprisingly down 51% from last year, when the network aired a Red Sox-Yankees game at the height of the Aaron Judge home run chase (3.23M). Ratings were not immediately available.
In other action, Cubs-Diamondbacks averaged a 0.42 and 742,000 on the latest edition of ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball — down 9% in ratings and 6% in viewership from Dodgers-Giants last year (0.46, 787K). Including ESPN Deportes (0.02, 36K), the game averaged a 0.45 and 778,000.
Rounding out the recent slate, TBS drew 363,000 viewers for Phillies-Braves on Tuesday — up 46% from Astros-Rays a year ago (249K).
Track’s Prefontaine Classic down from past years
Coverage of track & field’s Prefontaine Classic, which this year doubled as the final of the Diamond League, averaged a 0.47 rating and 744,000 viewers on NBC last Saturday and a 0.49 and 765,000 on Sunday — down from last year, when the network’s lone window averaged a 0.6 and 977,000 over Memorial Day weekend. Two years ago, when the event took place weeks after the Olympic Games, NBC’s coverage topped the million viewer mark.
For more sports ratings, see the latest weekly chart. Additional numbers from Sports TV Ratings 8.20, 8.21, 8.22.
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