Though viewership increased slightly over last year, the 2014-15 NBA season was among the lowest rated ever on broadcast TV.
Regular season NBA coverage averaged a 2.2 rating and 3.6 million viewers on ABC (15 telecasts), down a tick in ratings and virtually even in viewership compared to last year (2.3, 3.6M) and down 24% in both measures from the 2012-13 season (2.9, 4.7M).
The 2.2 average rating is tied as the second-lowest ever for the NBA on broadcast television, matching 2005-06 and 2007-08 and ahead of only 2006-07 (2.0). The ten lowest rated NBA seasons have taken place since ABC acquired rights in 2002. Since averaging a 3.3 rating during the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season — tied as the highest average for the NBA on broadcast since 1998-99 — ABC’s NBA ratings have declined in three consecutive years.
The season also ranks as the second-least watched on broadcast since 2007-08 (3.2M), edging last year.
Nine of the 15 telecasts on ABC had less than a 2.0 rating, the most in a single season since 2006-07 (10). The only exceptions were Thunder/Spurs on Christmas Day (3.3) and the Cavaliers’ five appearances. The season included a 1.0 rating for Rockets/Wizards on March 29, tied as the lowest NBA rating ever on broadcast.
Despite the lower numbers, the NBA on ABC still topped the past seven seasons of MLB coverage on FOX. Baseball has not averaged at least a 2.2 rating on broadcast since 2007 (2.3).
(Season avg. from ESPN)
