Ratings: API Way Up For 2021 Bay Hill Final Round

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Bryson DeChambeau’s one-stroke win over Lee Westwood proved to be a ratings bonanza by modern day standards.

ShowbuzzDaily.com with all of the numbers.

While a 2.36 might not look huge, NBC’s 2021 Arnold Palmer Players Championship Extended Preview Show Presented By Mastercard was up 49% over last year’s 1.67 for Tyrrell Hatton’s win.

The API—excuse me, APPCEPSPBM—rating is especially impressive in this age of declining numbers, cordcutting, regular sports competition and a telecast sporting a heavy commercial and promo load.

Early round coverage on Golf Channel was also up for all of the early shows and Sunday’s pregame show also cracked the top 150 cable shows. I believe that makes it the first or second non-live tournament coverage broadcast to draw a discernable audience.

The loser in all of this?

The LPGA’s Drive On Championship, going up against the action at Bay Hill, failed to rate Sunday with live final round (at the same time!?) coverage. A shame too, as the Golden Ocala course added some zest to a strong leaderboard. But when you insist on Sunday finishes against a PGA Tour schedule staple, these things happen.

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**NBC sent this release on ratings to date.

PGA TOUR VIEWERSHIP ON NBC UP 30% IN 2021 

Combined GOLF Channel/NBC PGA TOUR Viewership Up 24% vs. 2020

Arnold Palmer Invitational Viewership Up 49% vs. 2020; Sunday’s Final Round Viewership on NBC Peaks at More Than 5.6 Million Viewers

8 of 10 PGA TOUR Events on GOLF Channel/NBC in 2021 Have Delivered Audience Increases

26 Tournament Telecasts on GOLF Channel/NBC Up At Least 10%

STAMFORD, Conn. – March 10, 2021 – NBC Sports has produced significant viewership gains for the PGA TOUR to open the 2021 calendar year, delivering a 30% year-over-year viewership increase on NBC and a 24% increase for GOLF Channel/NBC tournament coverage through last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, according to data provided by The Nielsen Company. 

Twenty-six tournament telecasts on GOLF Channel/NBC have seen at least 10% viewership growth in 2021 compared to the first two months of 2020, and eight of the 10 PGA TOUR events on GOLF Channel/NBC in 2021 have posted year-over-year viewership growth vs. comparable coverage of the same event, most notably:

  • Arnold Palmer Invitational on GOLF Channel/NBC up 49%

  • Waste Management Phoenix Open on GOLF Channel up 38%

  • AT&T Pebble Beach on GOLF Channel up 29%

Following are viewership highlights from last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational on GOLF Channel/NBC:

  • Sunday’s final round viewership on NBC averaged 3.9 million viewers, up 49% vs. 2020.

  • Final round viewership on NBC peaked at more than 5.6 million viewers (6-6:15 p.m. ET) as Bryson DeChambeau defeated Lee Westwood by one shot.

  • Saturday’s third round on NBC was the most-watched sports event of the day, averaging 2.5 million viewers, up 41% vs. 2020.

  • Most-watched second round (GOLF Channel), third and final rounds (NBC) for the API since 2018.

The season began at the 2021 Sentry Tournament of Champions on GOLF Channel/NBC (Jan. 7-10), which delivered:

  • Most-watched first and third rounds on GOLF Channel since 2018

  • Most-watched final round on GOLF Channel/NBC since 2017

  • Most-watched second round on GOLF Channel since 2016

Additionally, the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open (Feb. 7) averaged 3.7 million viewers, up 29% vs. 2020 final round coverage on CBS. Lead-in coverage on GOLF Channel averaged 1.3 million viewers, up 83% vs. 2020.