The James Harden/Russell Westbrook matchup delivered good numbers for ESPN. In other news, the latest 30 For 30 doc hit a four-year high despite a weaker lead-in, and the FCS playoffs hit a multi-year high as well Saturday afternoon.
Rockets/Thunder Leads Recent NBA on ESPN
- Rockets/Thunder scored 1.8 million viewers on ESPN’s NBA Friday last week, up 64% from Heat/Pacers last year (1.1M), up 51% from Blazers/Bulls in 2014 (1.2M). Ratings jumped 49% year-over-year (from 0.77 to 1.15). The Suns/Lakers nightcap had a 1.0 (flat) and 1.6 million (+9%). On Tuesday, Timberwolves/Bulls had 1.4 million and Thunder/Blazers 1.5 million — down 28% and flat, respectively, from the comparable 2014 doubleheader of Warriors/Grizzlies (1.9M) and Thunder/Kings (1.5M). There were no comparable games last year.
Latest 30 For 30 Hits Post-Heisman High
- The debut of Catholics vs. Convicts, the latest ESPN 30 For 30 documentary, scored a 1.3 final rating and 2.1 million viewers on ESPN Saturday night — up 30% in ratings and 42% in viewership from Four Falls of Buffalo last year (1.0, 1.5M) and up a tick and 12%, respectively, from The U Part II in 2014 (1.2, 1.9M). It was the most-watched 30 For 30 premiere to air after the Heisman Trophy Presentation since You Don’t Know Bo in 2012 (3.6M). The multi-year high came despite a weaker lead-in from the Heisman, which declined double-digits to a 15-year low.
FCS Quarterfinal Hits Seven-Year High on ESPN
- Saturday’s South Dakota State/North Dakota State FCS quarterfinal had a 1.3 final rating and 2.0 million viewers on ESPN, up a tick in ratings and 21% in viewership from Northern Iowa/NDSU last year (1.2, 1.6M) and up 18% and 37%, respectively, from Coastal Carolina/NDSU in 2014 (1.1, 1.4M). Per Sports TV Ratings, it was the most-watched FCS game since Montana/Appalachian State in 2009 (2.5M). The previous night, Sam Houston State/James Madison had 509,000 viewers on ESPN2 — off 7% from Charleston Southern/Jacksonville State last year (546K) and down 25% from Chattanooga/New Hampshire in ’14 (675K).
(Numbers via Programming Insider 12/12, 12/13; ShowBuzz Daily 12/14)
