Fewer viewers are watching the latest entry into the Spurs/Suns rivalry.
The Suns’ Game 2 win over the Spurs on Wednesday night drew a 2.7 U.S. rating and 4.0 million viewers, down 7% in ratings and 8% in viewership from Magic/Celtics Game 2 in an earlier timeslot last year (2.9, 4.3 mil), but up 17% and 20%, respectively, from Magic/Pistons Game 2 in ’08 (2.3, 3.3 mil).
Monday’s Game 1 drew a 2.7 and 4.1 million viewers.
To put the numbers in perspective, Game 2 of the Suns/Spurs first round series two years ago drew a 3.0 rating and 4.4 million viewers.
Despite the decline, Spurs/Suns was the highest rated, most-viewed program of the night on cable, and the top program among all key adult and male demographics.
Through Wednesday, ratings have declined for four of the six second round telecasts*, with three games seeing double-digit drops. However, with the exception of Hawks/Magic Game 1 on Tuesday, the ratings have been generally solid. This year’s declines can be partly attributed to the strength of last year’s postseason.
Last year’s comparable games included Game 7 of the Bulls/Celtics first round series (the highest rated, most-viewed first round game ever on cable) and the first two games of a competitive, big market Rockets/Lakers matchup.
* Excludes Jazz/Lakers Game 1 on ABC. Ratings were not immediately available for that game.
