NBA viewership continues to decline this season, and the Cavaliers continue to be the exception. In other news, FOX earned another microscopic college basketball audience, and PBA bowling benefited from an NBA scheduling change.
Another Increase For Cavaliers Game, Declines For Others
- Thursday’s Clippers/Cavaliers NBA regular season game drew 1.8 million viewers on TNT, up 31% from Spurs/Nets last year (1.4M) but down 30% from Lakers/Celtics in 2013 (2.6M). The Cavaliers’ blowout win ranks as the only nationally televised game in the past two weeks to have an increase. The Suns/Blazers nightcap had 1.2 million (-15%). On Wednesday, ESPN drew 1.1 million for Bulls/Rockets and 1.4 million for Mavericks/Warriors — down 35% and 44%, respectively, from Blazers/Knicks (1.7M) and Heat/Clippers (2.6M) last year. (via TV By the Numbers [1], [2])
More Subterranean Numbers For College Hoops on FOX
- FOX drew just 353,000 viewers for the Providence/St. John’s college basketball game last Saturday afternoon, likely the second-smallest audience ever for college basketball on broadcast television. The network drew an even lower 340,000 for Northwestern/Butler in December. By comparison, CBS drew 1.0 million for Arkansas/Florida on Saturday and 2.4 million for Michigan/Michigan State on Sunday (via Sports Business Daily)
Airing in Place of Lakers/Knicks, PBA Bowling Up Big
- The Chris Paul PBA Celebrity Invitational bowling tournament earned 1.1 million viewers on ESPN Sunday afternoon, up 75% from live coverage in a later timeslot last year (626K) and the most-watched PBA event of the season. The previous high was 923,000 for a January 4 telecast. Keep in mind Sunday’s telecast was originally slated for 4:30 PM ET, but was moved up to 2 PM to replace a Lakers/Knicks NBA game. As a result of the scheduling change, it received a direct lead-in from the Super Bowl edition of NFL Countdown. (via ShowBuzz Daily)
