HBO’s 'Hard Knocks' Debuts With Strong Ratings

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HBO’s long-running NFL documentary series Hard Knocks:Training Camp With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scored big on the ratings front in its Aug. 8 premiere

The show, which follows the Buccaneers during the team’s pre-season training camp, averaged 671,000 viewers on HBO, a 32% increase above last year’s series premiere episode focusing on the Los Angeles Rams, which competed against  2016 Summer Olympics coverage, according to network officials.

The launch of Hard Knocks’ 12th season comes four months after HBO, NFL Media and NFL Films announced a long-term extension of the Emmy-winning sports documentary series.

The series has profiled such teams as The Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.