FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, August 9th, 2015

PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON OFF TO RECORD START ON NETWORKS OF NBCUNIVERSAL

Four matches on NBC, NBCSN & USA Network Combine for 2.02 Overnight Rating – Best Ever in U.S. for Premier League Opening Saturday

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 9, 2015 – The 2015-16 Premier League season kicked off yesterday with an exciting day of matches that resulted in the best-ever overnight ratings in the U.S. for the league’s opening Saturday.

With four matches on the networks of NBCUniversal — two on NBCSN, one on NBC, and one on USA Network in its newly-added Premier League telecast window – the combined Saturday overnight rating of 2.02 is the best-ever for a Premier League opening Saturday in the U.S. The combined 2.02 overnight is up 43% from the prior record set last August (1.41 for three matches across NBCSN and NBC).

In addition:

  • The 12:30 p.m. ET match on NBC – a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge between champions Chelsea and Swansea City – averaged a .93 overnight to rank as the best Saturday opener ever and topped last season’s NBC opener (Arsenal/Crystal Palace) by 27%.
  • The 7:45 a.m. ET match on NBCSN – Manchester United’s 1-0 victory over Tottenham in the Premier League’s opening match of the season – posted NBCSN’s best-ever overnight rating in the early Saturday window (.49).

Following is a look at the results of yesterday’s four matches on the networks of NBCUniversal:

Time Match Network
7:45 a.m. Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham NBCSN, NBC UNIVERSO
10 a.m. Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa NBCSN
10 a.m. Everton 2-2 Watford USA
12:30 p.m. Chelsea 2-2 Swansea City NBC, NBC UNIVERSO

This week’s live match coverage wraps up on Monday with Premier League Live at 2 p.m. ET followed by West Bromwich Albion v. Manchester City at 3 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

NBC Sports Group will once again make all 380 games from the Premier League available in the United States on the networks of NBCUniversal, on the Premier League Extra Time bonus TV package, and streamed live on NBC Sports Live Extra.

— NBC SPORTS GROUP —