Local TV ratings undercut by cricket, Oprah

Australia's Channel Seven is attributing the first-week drop in domestic ratings for the Open to, among other things, Oprah's Australian TV special. (AP)

Australia's Channel Seven is attributing the first-week drop in domestic ratings for the Open to, among other things, Oprah's Australian TV special. (AP)

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Here’s something else you probably didn’t know about Oprah: she undermined local TV ratings of this tournament, or so says the country’s second-largest network. Australia’s Channel Seven is reporting a first-week ratings drop, with viewership down between 14 and 17 percent. Along with competition from digital channels, one-off cricket matches and underperforming Aussie players, the network cites Oprah’s Australian television special -- which aired here last week -- as cause for the drop. But this marks the second straight year ratings are down.

he was upset by countryman David Ferrer last night