The NBA All-Star Game may never again be as strong a television draw as in the 1990s, but the exhibition earned solid numbers for TNT Sunday night.
The 2013 NBA All-Star Game earned a 5.9 overnight rating on TNT, up 9% from last year (5.4), but down 5% from 2011 (6.2). The 5.9 is tied as the second-highest for the game since at least 2004 (overnights prior to 2005 were not available).
Last year’s All-Star Game aired directly opposite the Academy Awards and started one hour earlier than usual.
Since hitting a record-low 4.3 in 2008, overnight ratings for the NBA All-Star Game have topped 5.0 in four of the past five seasons.
Though up from last year, the NBA All-Star Game still trailed January’s NFL Pro Bowl (7.7) and last year’s MLB All-Star Game (8.1). Of course, those games aired on broadcast television.
On Saturday, “NBA All-Star Saturday Night” earned a 4.3 overnight rating — down a tick from last year (4.4). By comparison, baseball’s Home Run Derby earned a 4.7.
Overnight Ratings For NBA All-Star Game
Past five seasons
(Weekend overnights from Sports Business Daily)
