TNT earned healthy numbers for the Knicks/Heat game Thursday night, despite New York’s record. In other news, Jason Collins‘ Nets debut was a better-than-average draw for YES Network, and ESPN had substantial declines for NASCAR’s Nationwide Series opener.
Solid Numbers For Knicks/Heat on TNT
- Thursday’s Knicks/Heat NBA regular season game earned 2.7 million viewers on TNT, up 113% from Sixers/Bulls last year (1.3M), and up 34% from Thunder/Magic in 2012 (2.0M). Of the 20 most-viewed NBA games this season, more than half (11) have involved the Heat. Later in the night, Nets/Nuggets earned just 1.2 million — down 26% from Wolves/Lakers last year (1.7M) and down 42% from Heat/Blazers in 2012 (2.1M). (Thu. numbers from The Futon Critic)
Collins’ Debut Above Average on YES Network
- Last Sunday’s Nets/Lakers game, featuring the debut of Jason Collins as the first openly gay player in any major U.S. pro sporting event, earned a 1.3 rating on YES Network in the New York market — a 63% improvement over the team’s season-to-date average (0.8). According to Newsday, the game ranks as the seventh-highest rated of the season on YES. (Newsday)
ESPN Starts Final Nationwide Series Season With Big Decline
- ESPN earned a 1.8 U.S. rating and 2.7 million viewers for last Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series Drive4COPD 300, down 18% in ratings and 19% in viewership from last year (2.2, 3.4M), and down 38% in both measures from 2012 (2.9, 4.4M). Compared to the last time the race aired opposite the Winter Olympics (2010), the race still declined 36% in ratings (2.8 to 1.8) and viewership (4.3M to 2.7M). (Sat. numbers from Sports Business Daily)
