2012 NBA Draft Down From Last Year, Still Second-Best on ESPN

Posted by | 07/02/2012 at 4:01 pm

The 2012 NBA Draft was the second-most viewed since ESPN began airing the event in 2003.

First and second round coverage of the NBA Draft drew a 1.9 U.S. rating and 2.959 million viewers on ESPN Thursday night, down 10% in ratings and 8% in viewership from last year (2.1, 3.202M), but flat in ratings and up 6% in viewership from 2010 (1.9, 2.789M).

Though down from last year, the telecast ranks as the second-most viewed NBA Draft ever on ESPN (ten telecasts dating back to 2003).

For some perspective, the complete 2012 NFL Draft averaged a combined 3.681 million viewers on ESPN/ESPN2 (2.924M) and NFL Network (757K). While that may seem like a surprisingly small gap between the two events, keep in mind that the NFL Draft lasted three days and included five more rounds.

Ratings/Viewership For the NBA Draft
Past five seasons

Year Date #1 Pick Net Rating Viewers (000)
2012 Thu., 6/28/12 Davis ESPN
1.9
2,959
2011 Thu., 6/23/11 Irving ESPN
2.1
3,202
2010 Thu., 6/24/10 Wall ESPN
1.9
2,789
2009 Thu., 6/25/09 Griffin ESPN
1.8
2,639
2008 Thu., 6/26/08 Rose ESPN
2.1
2,895

(This year’s numbers from ESPN)

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