Tuesday, June 09, 2009

TV Ratings-Belmont Beats out French Open, NHL & Others

The 5.0 overnight rating (race segment) and 4.3 overnight rating (total coverage) for the Belmont Stakes on ABC were the best ratings of all broadcast sporting events this weekend except for the NBA Finals Game 2 shown in primetime on ABC Sunday Night. The weekend was jam packed with Network Broadcast Sporting events including the NBA Finals, The French Open, The PGA Memorial Open featuring a Tiger Woods comeback, and the NHL Finals (Game 5) on primetime Saturday night.

The Belmont Stakes, even in a non Triple Crown year had no problem beating out major sports events such as The French Open and the NHL Finals. Image what ratings could be garnered if the Triple Crown Series was on one Network (currently shared with Kentucky Derby & the Preakness on NBC and the Belmont on ABC.

Here are the figures listed by Sport, Network and Overnight Rating
Source: Nielsen Media Research
  1. NBA Finals Game 2-ABC-- 9.9
  2. Belmont Stakes (Race Portion) ABC-- 5.0
  3. Belmont Stakes (Total Episode)ABC--4.3
  4. PGA Memorial Open-Final Rd. CBS--3.6
  5. NHL Finals Game 5--NBC--2.6
  6. Tennis- French Open Men's Final-CBS--1.8
  7. Tennis-French Open Woman's Final-CBS-1.4
  8. Prefontaine Classic-Track&Field-NBC--1.2
  9. WNBA-Shocks-Sparks-ABC--0.6
  10. LPGA-State Farm Classic--NBC-0.6

3 comments:

Elizabeth said...

I live in Pittsburgh and I have to say I feel some satisfaction that the Belmont ratings were higher than the ratings for the Penguins/Red Wings game. Maybe folks in this town are aware of more than just football and hockey!

Jessica said...

What I find interesting is that while this year's ratings represent a 52% drop from 2008, when there was a Triple Crown on the line, the numbers are up 42% compared to 2007, the last year there was no Triple Crown run. All Mine That Bird? Leftover Big Brown interest? Whatever, it's evidence of ongoing interest and an audience that can be cultivated.

SaratogaSpa said...

Jessica -I think a combination of MTB interest and more media exposure i.e. Borel TV interviews all helped.

Eliz.--Pittsburgh always comes up high in cities that watch the triple crown races.