Facing tough competition, overnight ratings dropped by more than a quarter for the UEFA Champions League Final.



Coverage of the Chelsea/Bayern Munich UEFA Champions League Final drew a 1.3 overnight rating on FOX Saturday afternoon, down 28% from Barcelona/Manchester United last year (1.8), but up 18% from from Inter Milan/Bayern Munich in 2010 (1.1).

Saturday’s match faced competition from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on NBC, the NBA Playoffs on ABC, and pre-race coverage of The Preakness Stakes on NBC. Last year’s match had far less formidable competition.

For some perspective, the match still outdrew last year’s MLS Cup (0.8) by 63% — with the caveat that the MLS game aired on cable television opposite Sunday Night Football.

(Saturday’s numbers from Sports Business Daily)