Local ratings have dropped by more than a quarter for the NBA’s defending champions. In other news, NBA viewership went in opposite directions on ESPN and TNT this week, and the Blues and Blue Jackets are both trending up locally.
No Ratings Honeymoon For Champion Cavs in Cleveland
- Cleveland Cavaliers NBA regular season games have averaged a 6.8 rating on Fox Sports Ohio, down 27% from last year, when the team averaged a network-record 9.3 for the full season. Of the network’s first five telecasts this season, three aired opposite the Indians in the World Series and a fourth competed with political coverage on November 8. Yet the competition is not solely to blame, as the team’s average rose only modestly from October and November (6.55) to December (6.9) and January (7.0). The Cavaliers still hold the second-best average rating in the NBA behind the Warriors. (Crain’s Cleveland 1/13)
NBA Doubleheaders Up on ESPN, Down on TNT
- Cavaliers/Blazers had a 1.1 final rating and 1.6 million viewers on the latest edition of ESPN’s NBA Wednesday, up 38% in ratings and 35% in viewership from Heat/Clippers last year (0.8, 1.2M) and up 10% and 14% respectively from Clippers/Blazers in 2015 (1.0, 1.4M). Earlier, Grizzlies/Thunder scored a 0.9 (-13%) and 1.3 million (-12%). On TNT Thursday, Bulls/Knicks (1.4M) and Pistons/Warriors (1.5M) declined 51% and 34% respectively from last year’s comparable doubleheader of Cavaliers/Spurs (2.9M) and Lakers/Warriors (2.4M). Ratings for TNT were not immediately available. (Programming Insider 1/12, ShowBuzz Daily 1/13)
Blues and Blue Jackets See Ratings Bump
- St. Louis Blues NHL games have averaged a 4.4 rating on Fox Sports Midwest, up 26% from last year (3.5) and the network’s second-best average at this point of the season. The team ranks third in the NHL in local ratings, behind Buffalo and Pittsburgh. In Columbus, Blue Jackets games have averaged a 1.84 rating on Fox Sports Ohio — up 97% from last year. The team has the best record in the NHL and recently completed a lengthy winning streak. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch 1/12, Crain’s Cleveland)
