Each game of the NBA Christmas Day quintuple-header declined from 2011, when the league’s holiday slate doubled as Opening Day, but four of five were up from 2010.
In the top game of the day, Thunder/Heat earned a 5.1 final rating and 9.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen fast-nationals — down 9% in ratings and 13% in viewership from Bulls/Lakers the previous year (5.6, 11.0M), and down 20% and 27%, respectively, from Heat/Lakers in 2010 (6.4, 13.1M).
Though down from previous years, Thunder/Heat ranks as the fifth-most viewed NBA regular season game on any network since the current television deals began in the 2002-03 season.
Knicks/Lakers earlier in the day drew a 4.8 and 8.8 million viewers, down a tick in ratings and 3% in viewership from Heat/Mavericks last year (4.9, 9.0M), but up 4% and 1%, respectively, from Celtics/Magic in 2010 (4.6, 8.7M).
Despite the decline, Knicks/Lakers ranks as the seventh-most viewed NBA regular season game since the television deals went into effect.
Over on ESPN, the Celtics/Nets matinee drew 3.8 million viewers — down 36% from Celtics/Knicks on TNT last year, which was the first game of the season (5.9M), and down 7% from Bulls/Knicks on ESPN in 2010 (4.0M).
Rockets/Bulls later in the night drew 2.4 million, down 7% from Magic/Thunder last year (2.6M), but up 18% from Nuggets/Thunder in 2010 (2.0M). The Nuggets/Clippers nightcap scored 2.3 million, down 23% from Clippers/Warriors last year (3.0M), but up 34% from Trail Blazers/Warriors in 2010 (1.7M).
Overall, ESPN averaged 2.8 million viewers for three Christmas Day games, up slightly from two games on the network last year, up 10% from three games in 2010, and the network’s top NBA performance on the network since 2004.
NBA Christmas Day Ratings/Viewership on Broadcast
Past decade; All games on ABC
| Year | Date | Time | Away | Home | Rating | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Tue., 12/25/12 | 3 PM | Knicks | Lakers |
4.8
|
8.8M
|
| 5:30 PM | Thunder | Heat |
5.1
|
9.6M
|
||
| 2011 | Sun., 12/25/11 | 2:30 PM | Heat | Mavs |
4.9
|
9.0M
|
| 5 PM | Bulls | Lakers |
5.6
|
11.0M
|
||
|
2010
|
Sat., 12/25/10 | 2:30 PM | Celtics | Magic |
4.6
|
8.7M
|
| 5 PM | Heat | Lakers |
6.4
|
13.1M
|
||
|
2009
|
Fri., 12/25/09 | 2:30 PM | Celtics | Magic |
3.3
|
5.9M
|
| 5 PM | Cavs | Lakers |
4.4
|
8.3M
|
||
|
2008
|
Thu., 12/25/08 | 2:30 PM | Spurs | Suns |
3.2
|
5.8M
|
| 5 PM | Celtics | Lakers |
5.3
|
10.0M
|
||
|
2007
|
Tue., 12/25/07 | 2:30 PM | Heat | Cavs |
3.1
|
5.0M
|
| 5 PM | Suns | Lakers |
3.5
|
6.0M
|
||
|
2006
|
Mon., 12/25/06 | 2:30 PM | Lakers | Heat |
3.5
|
5.5M
|
|
2005
|
Sun., 12/25/05 | 12:30 PM | Spurs | Pistons |
3.9
|
6.0M
|
| 3 PM | Lakers | Heat |
4.8
|
8.1M
|
||
|
2004
|
Sat., 12/25/04 | 3 PM | Heat | Lakers |
7.3
|
13.2M
|
|
2003
|
Thu., 12/25/03 | 6 PM | Mavs | Kings |
3.1
|
5.0M
|
| 8:30 PM | Rockets | Lakers |
4.1
|
7.2M
|
||
|
2002
|
Wed., 12/25/02 | 6 PM | Celtics | Nets |
2.5
|
4.0M
|
| 8:30 PM | Kings | Lakers |
4.5
|
7.5M
|
(Christmas Day numbers from ESPN)
