LSU/Texas A&M scored a huge increase on ESPN Thanksgiving night, though it was no match for their last meeting on the holiday. In other news, ESPN’s NBA coverage slipped on the night before Thanksgiving, and the Maui Invitational final posted an increase despite moving to ESPN2.
LSU/Texas A&M Top Thursday Game of Season
- Thursday’s LSU/Texas A&M college football game had a 1.3 final rating and 2.8 million viewers on ESPN, up 615% in viewership from South Florida/UCF last year, for which ratings were unavailable (388K), but down a tick and 5%, respectively, from another LSU/Texas A&M matchup in 2014 (1.4, 2.9M). It ranks as the most-watched Thursday night game this season, topping Louisville/Houston the previous week (2.4M).
NBA Dips on ESPN Night Before Thanksgiving
- Spurs/Hornets earned a 0.7 final rating and 1.1 million viewers on the latest edition of ESPN’s NBA Wednesday, down a tick in ratings and 11% in viewership from Knicks/Mavericks two years ago, the last time ESPN aired a game on the night before Thanksgiving (0.8, 1.3M). The Timberwolves/Pelicans nightcap was slightly stronger at a 0.8 and 1.3 million.
Maui Invitational Final Up Despite Move to ESPN2
- ESPN2 earned a 0.6 final rating and 948,000 viewers for last Wednesday’s Wisconsin/North Carolina Maui Invitational final, flat in ratings but up 3% in viewership from Kansas/Vanderbilt last year (0.6, 920K) and down a tick and 17%, respectively, from Arizona/San Diego State in 2014 (0.7, 1.1M). Those games aired on ESPN.
