FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 11th, 2015

U.S. RECORD 4.2 MILLION TUNE IN TO NBC SPORTS GROUP’S PREMIER LEAGUE OPENING WEEKEND COVERAGE — UP 25% FROM ‘14

NBC Broadcast of Chelsea-Swansea City is Most-Watched Opening Weekend Match in U.S. History

Telecast of Manchester United-Tottenham is Most-Watched Early Match on NBCSN

Fans streamed more than 14.8 million minutes via NBC Sports Live Extra – Best-Ever for a Premier League Weekend

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 11, 2015 – NBC Sports Group posted record-setting numbers this past weekend for its exclusive coverage of the Premier League on NBC, NBCSN, and USA Network, the Premier League Extra Time bonus TV package and the NBC Sports Live Extra live streaming product.

More than 4.2 million people tuned in to six telecasts on NBC, NBCSN and USA Saturday and Sunday – the most ever for an opening Premier League weekend in the U.S., and up 25% from the 3.3 million total for five games on NBC and NBCSN last year. – Source: Nielsen Media Research, NTI Live+Same Day data.

Additional milestones from NBC Sports Group’s opening weekend Premier League coverage:

  • Most-Watched Opening Weekend Match: Saturday’s Chelsea-Swansea City match on NBC averaged 1 million viewers, ranking as the most-watched opening weekend game in U.S. history, topping by 14% last year’s opening weekend match on NBC (Arsenal v. Crystal Palace, 885,000).
  • Most-Watched Early Match on NBCSN: Saturday’s Manchester United-Tottenham match ranked as the most-watched early window Premier League game ever on NBCSN (626,000 viewers). In addition, Manchester United-Tottenham is the most-watched opening weekend match on cable in U.S. history, topping by 22% last year’s opening weekend Newcastle v. Manchester City match on NBCSN (514,000 viewers).
  • More than 14.8 Million Minutes Streamed: Fans streamed more than 14.8 million minutes of action – best-ever for a Premier League weekend (Sat-Mon) – via NBC Sports Live Extra, NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected devices, a 33% increase from last year’s 11.2 million minutes. Saturday’s Chelsea-Swansea City match ranks as the third-best NBC Premier League match ever streamed in unique users.

TOP MARKETS FOR OPENING WEEKEND PREMIER LEAGUE COVERAGE:

(Average across all six games on NBC, NBCSN, and USA)

Rank Metered Market
1 Washington, DC
2 Columbus, OH
3 Hartford & New Haven
4 Tulsa
5 Dallas
5 Philadelphia
7 Miami
8 Tampa
9 Boston
9 New York
11 Norfolk
11 Indianapolis
13 Birmingham
14 West Palm Beach
14 Baltimore

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. Every MVPD has the option to carry every Premier League match on live television and via live streaming at no additional cost to consumers. All games will be preceded and followed by Premier League Live pre- and post-match shows from the NBC Sports Group International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn.NBC Sports Group’s exclusive Premier League coverage continues this Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET with Premier League Live, followed by Aston Villa v. Manchester United on NBCSN.

– NBC SPORTS GROUP –