Despite facing even stronger World Series competition than last year, the NBA’s opening night posted a slight gain in the metered markets.
The Knicks/Cavaliers NBA Opening Night game had a 2.2 overnight rating on TNT Tuesday night, down 19% from Cavaliers/Bulls last year (2.7) but up 16% from Mavericks/Spurs in 2014 (1.9).
The Cavaliers’ blowout win, which was moved up a half-hour to reduce the conflict with Game 1 of the Cubs/Indians World Series, had a 9.1 rating in Cleveland per Sports Business Daily — down 46% from last year’s opener (16.8) and down 67% from the 2014 opener, which marked LeBron James‘ first game back with the team (27.2). The New York market turned in a 4.6.
The World Series game overshadowed the Cavaliers’ opener nationally and especially locally, earning a 12.6 across the 56 metered markets and a 46.5 in Cleveland.
Later in the night, and mostly after the World Series game had concluded, Spurs/Warriors earned a 2.5 overnight — up 25% from Pelicans/Warriors last year (2.0). Overnights for Rockets/Lakers in 2014 were not available. The Warriors’ blowout loss had a 12.4 rating in the Bay Area and an 11.6 in San Antonio.
The strength of the late game helped TNT average a 2.4 overnight for its Opening Night doubleheader, up a tick from last year (2.3), up 20% from 2014 (2.0), and the highest average for the first night of the season since 2013 (3.6). Keep in mind that was also the last year Opening Night did not face the World Series.
(Tue. numbers from Sports Business Daily 10/26)
