ESPN earned modest numbers for NBA coverage opposite the World Series Wednesday night. In other news, NBC earned its largest audiences ever for the EPL and MLS last weekend, and Chicago Blackhawks ratings are up slightly on CSN Chicago.
1.7M For NBA on ESPN Opposite World Series
- Airing opposite Game 7 of the World Series, Wednesday’s Bulls/Knicks NBA season opener drew just under 1.7 million viewers on ESPN. In Chicago, the local broadcast on WGN (7.4) beat national coverage on ESPN (2.6) by 185% — and the World Series beat both networks combined (10.7). Later Wednesday night, Thunder/Blazers drew just over 1.7 million. This year marked the first time since 2010 that ESPN has aired NBA coverage on the first Wednesday of the season. (TV By the Numbers, Biz Journals)
NBC Sets EPL, MLS, Records
- Despite NFL competition, last Sunday’s Manchester United/Chelsea English Premier League match drew 1.3 million viewers on NBC — the most-watched EPL telecast ever on the NBC family of networks and the second-most watched in U.S. TV history. The all-time record, held by FOX, is 1.4 million for the same match-up on Super Bowl Sunday 2012. The previous day, NBC drew 699,000 for a Sounders/Galaxy MLS match — the top MLS audience ever on the NBC networks. (NBC Sports Group Press Box)
Blackhawks Ratings Up Slightly
- Chicago Blackhawks NHL regular season games have averaged a 4.6 rating on Comcast SportsNet Chicago so far this season, up 7% from last year (4.3). Ratings have improved 19% among adults 25-54, rising from 2.6 to 3.1. (CSN Chicago)
