It was a 26-point blowout, but Friday’s Miami Heat home opener attracted the third-largest NBA regular season audience in ESPN’s nine seasons covering the league.
ESPN earned a 2.3 U.S. rating and 3.774 million viewers for Magic/Heat on Friday night, up 109% in ratings and 145% in viewership from last year (CHI/BOS: 1.1, 1.541 mil).
Miami’s win ranks as the most-viewed NBA opening week game ever on ESPN, and the network’s third-most viewed regular season game overall since resuming NBA coverage in 2002.
Only Lakers/Rockets in January 2003 (4.882 mil) and Pistons/Pacers in December 2004 (4.330 mil) drew more viewers.
In the nightcap, Lakers/Suns drew an impressive 2.0 U.S. rating and 3.164 million viewers — up 33% and 48%, respectively, from last year (DAL/LAL: 1.5, 2.164 mil).
Both games nearly doubled last year’s average regular season rating on ESPN (1.1).
ESPN averaged a 1.7 U.S. rating and 2.620 million viewers for four NBA Opening Week telecasts this year, up 55% and 60%, respectively, from last year (1.1, 1.634 mil).
