The NFL moved the combine workouts to primetime to build up the audience for the annual scouting event in Indianapolis. And while television ratings for the combine were up over previous years, viewership still lagged behind several other sports programming on the weekend.
Saturday’s broadcast on ABC directly followed the network’s XFL game. Over half a million viewers — nearly one-third of the audience — tuned out. Real football still handily blows away the so-called “Underwear Olympics”.
The featured NHL game of the week on NBC on Sunday afternoon drew better ratings than the primetime combine coverage, too. Per tracking service showbuzz daily the matchup between the Flyers and Rangers drew a .69 rating, while the combine coverage pulled a .67. Several college basketball games, NBA games, the PGA tour stop and the NASCAR race in California also dwarfed the combine’s viewership.
