A weekly feature wherein we contextualize TV ratings for national sports broadcasts. Data via Nielsen and Sports Business Daily. Viewership numbers represent approximate number of persons tuned to a given program; ratings share refers to the percentage of all households using a television who are turned into that program.
June 25:
U.S. Olympic trials, swimming (NBC): 6.9 million viewers
America's Got Talent (NBC): 10.4 million viewers
College World Series, Arizona vs. South Carolina (ESPN): 2.1 million viewers
June 26:
U.S. Olympic trials, swimming (NBC): 6.9 million viewers
America's Got Talent (NBC): 11.6 million viewers
June 27:
U.S. Olympic trials, swimming (NBC): 7.0 million viewers
America's Got Talent (NBC): 10.6 million viewers
June 28:
U.S. Olympic trials, swimming (NBC): 6.1 million viewers
The Big Bang Theory (CBS): 7.6 million viewers
NBA draft (ESPN): 2.9 million viewers
June 29:
U.S. Olympic trials, gymnastics (NBC): 7.7 million viewers
U.S. Olympic trials, swimming (NBC): 6.0 million viewers
Blue Bloods rerun (CBS): 5.3 million viewers
June 30:
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kentucky (TNT): 3.8 million viewers
U.S. Olympic trials, swimming (NBC): 5.3 million viewers
FOX Saturday Baseball [multiple games] (FOX): 2.6 million viewers
Victorious (Nickelodeon): 3.8 million viewers
July 1:
U.S. Olympic trials, swimming (NBC): 7.8 million viewers, 2.7 rating
US Olympic trials, gymnastics (NBC): 10.0 million viewers, 3.5 rating
Sunday Night Baseball, New York Mets at Los Angeles Dodgers (ESPN): 1.5 million viewers (rating unavailable)
Euro 2012 final, Spain vs. Italy (ESPN): 4.0 million viewers, 2.7 rating
BET Awards (BET): 7.4 million viewers, 4.8 rating
PGA Tour AT&T National (CBS): 4.6 rating (viewership numbers unavailable)