The Cavaliers continue to attract the NBA’s largest national TV audiences. In other news, college basketball’s Champions Classic attracted fewer viewers this year and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating hit a high point on NBC.
Cavaliers Keep Moving the Needle
- Wednesday’s Spurs/Cavaliers NBA regular season game drew 2.6 million viewers on ESPN, up 47% from Pacers/Knicks last year (1.8M), up 24% from Clippers/Thunder in 2012 (2.1M) and the season’s fourth-largest audience. The Cavaliers have played in four of the top six games. The Lakers/Rockets nightcap had 2.3 million (+10%), just the fifth game to have an increase this season — with all five involving the Cavaliers or the Lakers. On a less positive note, Thursday’s Clippers/Heat (1.2M, -36%) and Bulls/Kings (1.1M, -27%) games on TNT were both down double-digits. (via TV By the Numbers [1], [2])
Fewer Viewers For College Hoops’ Champions Classic
- The Kansas/Kentucky Champions Classic college basketball game drew 2.7 million viewers on ESPN Tuesday night, down 8% from Kansas/Duke last year (3.0M) and down 9% from Duke/Kentucky in 2012 (3.0M). Kentucky won by 32 points. Earlier in the night, Michigan State/Duke drew 2.5 million — down 38% from Michigan State/Kentucky last year (4.0M) but up 24% from Michigan State/Kansas in 2012 (2.0M). (via TV By the Numbers)
ISU GP Hits High From Moscow
- The Rostelecom Cup from Moscow, the fourth event in the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, drew a 0.8 final rating and 1.2 million viewers on NBC last Sunday — easily the highest rated and most-watched event of this year’s ISU GP. The previous highs were 0.7 and 926,000 for last week’s Cup of China telecast. (via Sports Business Daily)
