With two of the league’s biggest stars sidelined, ABC’s Christmas Day NBA doubleheader was down big from last year. In other news, ESPN hit a nine-year high for its NBA Christmas coverage, and the NHL’s New Year’s Day Winter Classic tied the highest regular season rating in nearly 40 years.
ABC’s NBA Doubleheader Down Big Christmas Day
- The Christmas Day Heat/Lakers NBA regular season game drew a 4.2 final rating and 7.8 million viewers on ABC, down 18% in ratings and viewership from Thunder/Heat last year (5.1, 9.6M), down 25% and 29%, respectively, from Bulls/Lakers in 2011 (5.6, 11.0M), and the lowest rated and least-viewed game in that window since 2007. The early Thunder/Knicks game drew a 3.0 and 5.5 million, down 38% in ratings and viewership from Knicks/Lakers last year (4.8, 8.7M), and down 39% and 40%, respectively, from Heat/Mavericks in 2011 (4.9, 9.0M). Thunder/Knicks was the lowest rated Christmas game on broadcast — in any timeslot — since 2002 and the least-viewed since 2007. Keep in mind Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony were injured for this year’s games. (ESPN)
ESPN Hits Nine-Year High For NBA on Christmas Day
- ESPN’s Christmas Day NBA coverage was the most-viewed since 2004, averaging a 1.8 U.S. rating and 2.9 million viewers over three games. The network averaged 2.8 million for Christmas Day coverage in 2012 (3 games), 2.8 million in 2011 (2 games), and 2.6 million in 2010 (3 games). Rockets/Spurs was the top draw with a 2.0 and 3.4 million, up 43% in ratings and 42% in viewership from Rockets/Bulls last year (1.4, 2.4M), and the most-viewed primetime Christmas game ever on the network. Clippers/Warriors drew a 1.8 (+20%) and 2.7 million (+18%), and Bulls/Nets earned a 1.6 (-27%) and 2.8 million (-26%). (ESPN Media Zone)
NHL Winter Classic Ties Best Rating Since ’75
- The Maple Leafs/Red Wings NHL Winter Classic earned a 2.5 final rating and 4.4 million viewers on NBC New Year’s Day, according to Nielsen fast-nationals — up 19% in ratings and 18% in viewership from Rangers/Flyers in 2012 (2.1, 3.7M), and up 9% and down 3%, respectively, compared to Capitals/Penguins in primetime in 2011 (2.3, 4.5M). The game tied the highest NHL regular season rating since 1975, matching the 2009 Red Wings/Blackhawks Winter Classic, and ranks as the second-most viewed telecast over that span. The game earned an 18.0 rating in Detroit — shy of Michigan State in the Rose Bowl the same day (27.9), but the highest for an NHL regular season game on NBC in the market. (NBC Sports Group Press Box)
