Weekend ratings predictions: Brickyard 400, NHRA and more – Sporting News
First, the results of last week’s predictions:
— British Open, third and final rounds. Predictions: 2.6 and 3.3; final ratings: 2.4 and 3.3.
— Sunday Night Baseball, Red Sox-Yankees. Prediction: 1.6; final rating: 1.4.
— NASCAR Sprint Cup from New Hampshire. Prediction: 2.3; final rating: 2.1.
— Premier Boxing Champions (FOX). Prediction: 1.4; final rating: 1.1.
— LPGA Marathon Classic. Prediction: 0.4; final rating 0.7.
This week’s predictions (all times Eastern):
NASCAR Sprint Cup from Indianapolis (3 p.m. Sunday, NBCSN). The absence of Dale Earnhardt Jr. would usually be bad news for NASCAR, but the return of Jeff Gordon is quite the consolation prize. With Gordon racing in Earnhardt’s #88 car at the Brickyard this weekend, already one of NASCAR’s biggest events on the schedule, look for NBCSN to score an uptick in ratings from last year’s record-low 3.0. Prediction: 3.1.
NHRA from Denver (3 p.m. Sunday, FOX). For the first time, live NHRA racing airs on broadcast television. The NHRA’s new television deal with Fox Sports has thus far been a success, with the series delivering its two largest audiences in at least 14 years. Look for the good times to continue this week, even with direct competition from NASCAR on NBCSN. Prediction: 1.1.
MLB Sunday Night Baseball, Dodgers-Cardinals (8 p.m. Sunday, ESPN). A pair of second-place teams take center stage on Sunday Night Baseball. Expect middle-of-the-road ratings for a middle-of-the-road matchup. Prediction: 1.2.
Tour de France, Final Stage (10:30 a.m. Sunday, NBCSN). Considering the early morning timeslot and the general obscurity of the sport – to say nothing of the limited exposure of NBCSN — the Tour de France puts up decent enough numbers. The final stage earned a 0.3 rating both last year and in 2014. Prediction: 0.3.
Major League Soccer, Red Bulls-NYC F.C. (1 p.m. Sunday, FOX). Major League Soccer returns to the FOX broadcast network on Sunday. Last week, the network scored a mere 0.3 rating for Sounders-Timbers — not bad for the early morning on cable, but quite poor for the afternoon on broadcast. Expect more of the same this time around. Prediction: 0.3.
Paulsen is the founder of Sports Media Watch and a contributor for Sporting News. Follow him on Twitter @Paulsen_SMW .
