Weekend ratings predictions: British Open, Red Sox-Yankees and more – Sporting News
First, the results of last week’s predictions:
— UEFA Euro 2016 final, Portugal-France. Prediction: 2.5; final rating: 2.5.
— Wimbledon women’s final, S. Williams-Kerber. Prediction: 1.6; final rating: 1.5.
— Wimbledon men’s final, Murray-Raonic. Prediction: 1.4; final rating: 1.5.
— U.S. Olympic Trials, women’s gymnastics. Predictions: 3.8 and 5.0; final ratings: 3.4 and 5.0.
— U.S. Women’s Open, final round. Prediction: 0.8; final rating: 0.9.
— Tour de France, Stage 8. Prediction: 0.7; final rating: 0.7.
This week’s predictions (all times Eastern):
British Open, third and final rounds (7 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, NBC). The last time the British Open aired on a broadcast network, 2009, ABC delivered a 2.4 rating on Saturday and a 3.8 on Sunday. In the six subsquent years, when coverage aired exclusively on ESPN, ratings never exceeded 3.1. Look for that to change this week as the Open returns to broadcast, this time on NBC — especially if Phil Mickelson remains atop the leaderboard. Last year’s third and final round windows, which were pushed back a day due to rain, each scored a 2.4 (not including early morning coverage). Predictions: 2.6 and 3.3.
Sunday Night Baseball, Red Sox-Yankees (8 p.m. Sunday, ESPN). With the Red Sox and Yankees in varying degrees of playoff contention, the rivalry should attract better numbers on Sunday Night Baseball this weekend. Their two previous Sunday night meetings this season scored ratings of 1.5 and 1.2. Prediction: 1.6.
NASCAR Sprint Cup from New Hampshire (1:30 p.m. Sunday, NBCSN). NASCAR got off to a slow start on NBCSN last weekend, with Kentucky delivering its lowest Sprint Cup rating ever and tying a season-low. Do not expect much of a rebound for this weekend’s New Hampshire race, which last year scored its lowest rating since at least 1998 (2.4). Prediction: 2.3.
Premier Boxing Champions, Wilder-Arreola (8 p.m. Saturday, FOX). After debuting with a 1.5 rating in January, Premier Boxing Champions on FOX dipped to a 1.1 rating for its second telecast in April. With a decently hyped main event this weekend, look for the network’s third outing to bounce back in the ratings. Prediction: 1.4.
LPGA Marathon Classic, final round (4 p.m. Sunday, CBS). For the second of four straight weeks, women’s golf gets broadcast television exposure. It is unlikely that Sunday’s Marathon Classic will put up particularly impressive numbers, but ratings should benefit from a lack of PGA competition. The British Open will have ended by by the time CBS goes on-air at 4 PM ET. Prediction: 0.4.
Paulsen is the founder of Sports Media Watch and a contributor for Sporting News. Follow him on Twitter @Paulsen_SMW .
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