Local television ratings for the L.A. Lakers have fallen dramatically this season. In other news, ESPN earned one of the top NBA audiences of the season, and the NHL “Stadium Series” delivered another solid number for NBCSN.
Lakers Ratings Plunge, in Virtual Tie With Dodgers
- Los Angeles Lakers regular season NBA games have averaged a 2.72 rating on Time Warner Cable SportsNet this season, according to The Los Angeles Times, down 38% from a 4.35 last year. The Lakers’ average is barely ahead of what the Dodgers averaged on Fox Sports Prime Ticket last season (2.70). Despite the precipitous drop, the Lakers still lead the Clippers, who have averaged a 1.28 on FS Prime Ticket. (The Los Angeles Times)
Thunder/Heat Top Game on Cable Since Opening Night
- Wednesday’s Thunder/Heat NBA regular season game earned 3.9 million viewers on ESPN, up 93% from Heat/Nets last year (2.0M), and the season’s second-most viewed game on cable. Only Bulls/Heat on TNT Opening Night drew more viewers (5.4M). Bulls/Spurs drew 2.0 million later in the night, down 16% from Lakers/Suns last year (2.4M). (Wed. numbers from The Futon Critic)
Solid Numbers For Latest NHL “Stadium Series” Game
- The Rangers/Islanders NHL outdoor game earned a 0.41 U.S. rating and 682,000 viewers on NBCSN, the network’s most-viewed outdoor game (three telecasts). Locally, the game earned a regular season record 3.58 rating in the New York market. (NBC Sports Group Press Box)
