Some quick numbers from NBC Sports on the debut of the English Premier League on Saturday.
First, NBC received the highest overnight rating for an opening weekend match, 0.8 for Swansea City vs. Manchester United.
Second, Washington, DC was the highest of all markets with a very good 2.2 for the contest.
Third, the three opening games spanning NBCSN and NBC received a 0.5 overnight number.
Here’s what NBC said about the numbers.
NBC Telecast of Swansea City-Manchester United Posts Highest Overnight Rating in U.S. History for Premier League Opener
Saturday’s NBC telecast of Swansea City-Manchester United drew the highest overnight rating (.8) in U.S. history for a Premier League opening weekend match.
Additional notes on Saturday’s coverage:
- NBC Sports Group’s three live opening-day Premier League telecasts averaged a .5 overnight rating – up 67% from last season’s opening Saturday three-game average (.3 average for one match on ESPN and two on Fox Soccer)
- Washington, D.C. topped all U.S. markets for local ratings of NBC’s Swansea City-Manchester United telecast. Following is the top ten:
Washington, D.C. (2.2)
Tulsa (1.9)
Austin (1.8)
Seattle (1.4)
Buffalo (1.4)
Los Angeles (1.2)
Philadelphia (1.0)
Cincinnati (1.0)
Orlando (1.0)
Hartford/New Haven (0.9)
- Fans streamed more than four million minutes of Premier League action via NBC Sports Live Extra, NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices and tablets. This is the first time ever that all Premier League games are available at no extra cost (to fans with NBC Sports Network) via live stream.
- This the first time that all Premier League games are available on television on the networks of NBCUniversal and the Premier League Extra Time bonus television package. Extra Time is available at no extra cost to fans who receive NBC Sports Network through their cable/satellite/telco providers.
And we’re done with the housekeeping from the weekend.
