ESPN scored increases in viewership for NBA preseason action. In other news, Premier Boxing Champions went in opposite directions on NBC and Spike last weekend, and Formula 1 racing had a recent dip on NBCSN.
ESPN Posts Increases For NBA Preseason Games
- Wednesday’s Wizards/Heat NBA preseason game had 784,000 viewers on ESPN, up 45% from Cavaliers/Grizzlies last year (540K) and up 13% from Nets/Celtics in 2013 (694K), both of which faced the World Series. The previous night, ESPN drew 778,000 for Warriors/Clippers — up 14% from the same matchup on TNT last year (680K). On TNT, Warriors/Lakers drew 436,000 viewers Thursday night and Rockets/Warriors 303,000 the previous week; there were no games on the comparable nights last year. (via ShowBuzz Daily [1], [2], [3], [4])
PBC Up on NBC, Hits Low on Spike
- Coverage of the Premier Boxing Champions series drew a 0.7 final rating and 1.1 million viewers on NBC last Saturday, flat in ratings and up 10% in viewership from the network’s previous afternoon telecast in September (0.7, 1.0M). The previous night, coverage on Spike TV drew 315,000 viewers — the network’s smallest PBC audience yet (seven telecasts). (via Sports Business Daily, ShowBuzz Daily)
F1 Up on NBC/NBCSN, Though Recent Races Dip
- NBC and NBCSN have averaged 535,000 viewers for Formula 1 coverage so far this season (13 telecasts), up 4% from last year and up 58% from 2013. Keep in mind that does not include the British and Hungarian Grand Prix, which aired on CNBC. The most recent F1 race, the Russian GP on October 11, had 354,000 viewers on NBCSN — down 12% from last year (402K) and the second straight race to decline. (Austin American Statesman via Sports Business Daily; Awful Announcing)
