NBC Sports got record American ratings with its coverage of the Barclays Premier League on Saturday.
NBC bet $250 million on Premier League soccer and it looks like it may pay dividends.
The “triple-header on NBC and NBC Sports Network (Stoke City-Liverpool, Aston Villa-Arsenal, Manchester United-Swansea City) averaged an 0.5 rating,” which was “up 67 percent from the average for the three opening Saturday games that ESPN and Fox Soccer broadcast in 2012.” On NBC, the match between Swansea City and Manchester United drew an 0.8 rating, an American record.
Here are the top ten markets:
Market Rating
1. Washington, D.C. 2.2
2. Tulsa 1.9
3. Austin 1.8
t4. Seattle 1.4
t4. Buffalo 1.4
6. Los Angeles 1.2
t7. Philadelphia 1.0
t7. Cincinnati 1.0
t7. Orlando 1.0
10. Harford/New Haven