A weekly feature wherein we contextualize TV ratings for national sports broadcasts. Data via Nielsen and Sports Business Journal's John Ourand. 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.
Monday, July 2:
America's Got Talent (NBC): 10.4 million viewers
U.S. Olympic trials, swimming (NBC): 7.4 million viewers
The Bachelorette (ABC): 7.4 million viewers
Tuesday, July 3:
Rizzoli & Isles (TNT): 5.3 million viewers
Abismo de Pasion (Univision): 4.0 million viewers
Tour de France [tape delay, aired in primetime] (NBCSN): 326,000 viewers
Wednesday, July 4:
Macy's 4th of July fireworks (NBC): 8.1 million viewers
Cine de las Estrellas [2012, en español] (TeleFutura): 860,000 viewers
Tour de France [live] (NBCSN): 356,000 viewers
Thursday, July 5:
No highly rated sporting events.
Friday, July 6:
No highly rated sporting events.
Saturday, July 7:
Fox Saturday Baseball [multiple games] (FOX): 3.7 million viewers
NASCAR Sprint Cup at Daytona (TNT): 5.4 million viewers; 735,000 viewers for simulcast on TruTV
Law & Order: SVU, rerun (NBC): 3.1 million viewers
MLS soccer, Colorado Rapids at Seattle Sounders (NBCSN): 151,000 viewers
Sunday, July 8:
Wimbledon, men's final (ESPN): 3.9 million viewers
Sunday Night Baseball, New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox (ESPN): 3.0 million viewers
Army Wives (Lifetime): 3.3 million viewers
MLS soccer, LA Galaxy at Chicago Fire (ESPN): 496,000 viewers