Ratings Roundup: Womens College Basketball on ESPN Sees Highest Regular Season Viewership Since 2008

Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press releases and reports around the industry.

In this weeks edition, the Boston Celtics victory over the Los Angeles Lakers is most watched regular season game in seven years; NASCAR Cup Series sees increased viewership by over 20% compared to last year; and more.NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix Sees Highs NASCAR Cup Series: Sundays Shriners Childrens 500 on Fox Sports 1 (FS1) earned a 1.43 household rating and averaged 2.82 million viewers per minute, becoming the most-watched NCS race on cable since Darlington I in May 2021 (FS1, 3.1 million) For additional context, viewership was up +29% over the first NCS points race on FS1 last year in April (Martinsville I, 2.2 million) Note: the most-watched NCS race on FS1 in 2024 was Darlington I in May (2.6 million) Viewership for 2025 NCS Phoenix was up +20% over FS1s 2024 NCS event average (2.34 million) The race ranked as the #1 sports event on television Sunday, ahead of the PGA TOUR on NBC, NBA on ABC & ESPN, and all NCAAB competition At peak, 3.4 million viewers were tuned in to see Christoper Bell become the first driver to win 3 consecutive Cup Series races in the Next Gen car NASCAR Xfinity Series: the event earned a 0.67 household rating on The CW with an average of 1.2 million viewers tuned in per minute, up +13% over 2024 NXS Phoenix I on FS1 The race ranked as the #1 telecast of the week on The CW for the 4th time in 4 races of the 2025 NXS season At peak, 1.5 million viewers were tuned in to the close finish between Aric Almirola and Alex Bowman, won by Almirola NBA: Saturday nights matchup on ABC and ESPN+ featuring L.A.

Lakers/Boston ranked as the #1 sports event of the week and earned a 2.17 household rating and 4.60 million viewers per minute, up nearly 2X over the matchup in this same window last year (Boston/Phoenix, 2.4 million) NCAA Basketball: Saturdays Duke/UNC matchup on ESPN ranked as the #2 sports event of the week averaging a 1.39 household rating and 3.0 million viewers per minute, down -3% versus the same matchup in the same window last year (3.1 million) Last year both teams were ranked in the top 10 nationally at the time and UNC won the game by 5 points.

This year, Duke was ranked #2 nationally, UNC unranked.

Duke won the game this year by 13 points after leading by 1 at halftime PGA TOUR: Sundays Final Round coverage of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, airing on NBC opposite NCS coverage on FS1, averaged a 1.42 household rating and 2.81 million viewers tuned in, up +22% YOY Last year was the first year this event was elevated to a PGA TOUR signature event, which features a limited field of competitors playing for an increased purse and FedExCup points This year Russell Henley won the event by one shot over Collin Morikawa.

Last year Scottie Scheffler won by five shots NHRA: With NCS Phoenix as lead-in, the season-opening event at Gainesville earned a 0.31 household rating on FS1 with an average of 596,000 viewers per minute tuned in, up more than 1.5X over last year when the event followed Mens NCAAB on FS1 and averaged 341,000 viewers Weekend Motorsports, ranked by audience size: NCS (Phoenix): 2.818 million viewers on FS1 NXS (Phoenix): 1.228 million viewers on The CW NHRA (Gainesville): 596,000 viewers on FS1 (NCS as lead-in) ARCA (Phoenix): 270,000 viewers on FS1NASCAR Cup Series Shriners Childrens 500Aired Sunday, March 9th on FS1 U.S.

Rating 2025: 1.43 on FS1 Down -34% versus 2024 Phoenix I on FOX (2.16) Up +22% over 2024 Martinsville (First points race of 2024 season on FS1, Martinsville I, April, 1.17) Avg.

Viewers (000) (all ages P2+) 2025: 2,818 (2.8 million)Down -30% versus 2024 Phoenix I on FOX (4.0 million) Up +29% over 2024 Martinsville (First points race of 2024 season on FS1, Martinsville I, April, 2.2 million)NASCAR Xfinity Series GOVX 200Aired Saturday, March 8th on The CW U.S.

Rating 2025: 0.67 on The CW Up +8% over 2024 Phoenix I on FS1 (0.62) Avg.

Viewers (000) (all ages P2+) 2025: 1,228 (1.2 million) Up +13% over 2024 Phoenix I on FS1 (1.1 million)FOX Scores Most-Watched FS1 Race Since 20212,818,000 viewers watched Christopher Bell score his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory Sunday at Phoenix Raceway on FS1 Up +18% from last year's FS1 average of 2,389,000 viewers Ranks as the most-watched NASCAR Cup Series Race on FS1 since 2022 The race peaked at 3,386,000 viewers from 6:45 to 7:00 PM ET Ranks as the top telecast in all of cable television on SundayNBA Saturday Primetime on ABC: Boston Celtics Victory Over Los Angeles Lakers was Most-Watched NBA Regular-Season Game Across Any Platform in Seven Years (Excluding Christmas) ESPNs coverage of the Boston Celtics 111-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on the March 8 edition of NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC Presented by Wingstop averaged 4,605,000 viewers, making it the most-watched regular season NBA game in seven years, since 2018 (excluding Christmas).

The broadcast was up 92 percent from last years comparable game window.According to Nielsen, NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC Presented by Wingstop the premier, national NBA game of the week broadcast peaked with 5,342,000 viewers from 9:15-9:29 p.m.

ET.

The Celtics vs.

Lakers game was available across ABC, ESPN+ and Disney+.The Celtics vs.

Lakers game on ABC was the most-watched program in primetime for Saturday March 8.

NBA viewership on ESPN platforms for the 2024-25 regular season is even with last year.The Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry host the New York Knicks and Karl Anthony-Towns on the March 15 edition of NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC Presented by Wingstop at 8:30 p.m.

ET.

Mike Breen and analysts Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson will provide commentary with Lisa Salters reporting.Womens College Basketball Across ESPN Platforms Scores Most-Watched Regular Season Since 2008-09Womens college basketball delivered its most-watched regular season on ESPN platforms since 2008-09.

Viewership for the 2024-25 campaign finished 3% above the historic 2023-24 regular season with a whopping 41% increase over 2022-23.

In all, the 87 womens games across ESPN platforms averaged 280,000 viewers.It was also the most-consumed season on record for ESPN platforms with more than 2.9 billion total minutes watched of live womens college basketball games.

In addition, ESPN platforms delivered 15 games with more than 500,000 viewers during the regular season the most on record in a single season.The regular season on ESPN platforms was also up 27% YoY among adults 18-34.Individual Network Growth ABC and ESPN both grew their audiences during the 2024-25 regular season: ESPN averaged 511,000 viewers, up 13% year-over-year ABC finished up 120% year-over-year, averaging 1.3 million viewers (3 games)2024-25 Top Regular Season Womens College Basketball Games Across ESPN Platforms: DateTime PlatformGameViewersFeb 16 1 p.m.ABCNo.

7 UConn at No.

4 South Carolina1.8 millionFeb 163 p.m.ABCNo.

5 LSU at No.

3 Texas1.7 millionFeb 9 2 p.m.ESPNNo.

2 South Carolina at No.

4 Texas1 millionFeb 23 NoonESPNN.

1 Notre Dame at No.

13 NC State887,000Dec 127 p.m.ESPNNo.

2 UConn at No.

8 Notre Dame847,000*Rankings reflected for the date of the game The ABC doubleheader of UConn at South Carolina (1.8 million) and LSU at Texas (1.7 million) each on Feb.

16 were the two most-viewed womens college basketball regular season games on ESPN platforms since 2010.

ESPN platforms were home to seven of the top 10 womens college basketball regular season games across all networks this season..

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