Weekend ratings predictions: Brickyard 400, Gold Cup final, and more | More … – SportingNews.com
First, the results of last week’s predictions:
— British Open, third and final rounds. Predictions: 2.4 and 2.9; final ratings: 2.1 (Sunday) and 2.1 (Monday).
— CONCACAF Gold Cup, United States-Cuba. Prediction: 1.3; final rating: 0.9.
— NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from New Hampshire. Prediction: 2.3; final rating: 2.4.
— IndyCar Series racing from Iowa. Prediction: 0.3; final rating: 0.3.
— MLB Sunday Night Baseball, Red Sox/Angels. Prediction: 1.4; game PPD.
This week’s predictions
NASCAR Sprint Cup racing from Indianapolis (3:30 p.m. Sunday, NBCSN) . One of the biggest races on the NASCAR calendar airs on NBCSN this weekend. Last year’s Brickyard 400 had a 3.4 rating on ESPN, the second lowest in the history of the race . Only in 2012, when coverage aired opposite the Olympics, did the race earn a lower rating (3.3). Considering that no race on cable this season has managed to top the 2.5 mark, one can expect a new record-low. Prediction: 2.8.
CONCACAF Gold Cup final, Mexico-Jamaica (7:30 p.m. Sunday, Univision and Fox Sports 1) . Expect ratings for the Gold Cup final to go in opposite directions Sunday. On Fox Sports 1, the absence of the United States — and a move from broadcast to cable — should send ratings spiraling downward from 2013 (1.4). On Univision, Mexico’s return to the title game should boost the numbers well above 2013 and somewhere close to their 2011 win (3.1). Predictions: 2.9 and 0.5.
PGA Tour RBC Canadian Open, final round (3 p.m. Sunday, CBS) . In a year when golf ratings have been on an upswing, it is worth noting that two of the last three tournaments skipped by Jordan Spieth had declines for final round coverage. Look for this week’s PGA Canadian Open to make it three out of the past four, though barely. Last year’s final round had a 1.6. Prediction: 1.5.
MLB Sunday Night Baseball, Tigers-Red Sox (8 p.m. Sunday, ESPN) . After a rainout last week, Sunday Night Baseball returns for the first time since the All-Star Break with Tigers-Red Sox. With both teams under-.500, this 2013 ALCS rematch is not exactly a marquee matchup. Last year’s Dodgers-Cardinals game had a 1.3. Prediction: 1.0.
WNBA All-Star Game (3 p.m. Saturday, ABC) . A move from cable to broadcast should give the WNBA All-Star Game a big boost in the ratings. Last year’s game had a mere 0.3 rating on ESPN, after the previous year’s edition scored a 0.6 on ABC. Also helping matters is the increased media attention surrounding Brittney Griner and Elena Delle Donne — though for far different reasons — and the presence of ESPN’s SportsCenter, which will emanate from the site of the game Saturday morning. Prediction: 0.6.
UFC Fight Night (8 p.m. Saturday, FOX) . The summer edition of UFC on FOX is usually the lowest rated of the year, with last year’s show scoring a 1.5 rating — tied as the second-lowest ever for MMA on broadcast TV. It matched the previous year’s summer telecast, and topped only coverage in summer 2012 (1.4). In other words, expect low numbers this week. Prediction: 1.4.
Paulsen is the founder of Sports Media Watch and a contributor for Sporting News. Follow him on Twitter @Paulsen_SMW.
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