After a rough regular season, NBA ratings ‘flipped the switch’ to start the playoffs.
Sunday’s Blazers-Warriors NBA Playoffs Game 1 had a 4.4 overnight rating on ABC, up 7% from Pistons-Cavaliers last year (4.1) but down a tick from Celtics-Cavaliers in 2015 (4.5). Compared to Golden State’s playoff opener against Houston last year, which aired on ABC but on a Saturday afternoon, overnights rose 12% from a 3.9.
The Warriors’ win delivered the fourth-highest overnight on the opening weekend of the NBA Playoffs since 2003, trailing Celtics-Cavaliers in ’15, Lakers-Spurs in 2013 (4.6) and New Orleans-Lakers in 2011 (also 4.6).
Later in the day, Thunder-Rockets scored a 3.5 overnight on TNT — up 21% from Grizzlies-Spurs last year (2.9), up 35% from Blazers-Grizzlies in 2015 (2.6) and the highest opening weekend overnight on cable since 2011.
Bulls-Celtics was not far behind at a 3.4, up 42% from Hornets-Heat last year (2.4) and up 31% from Nets-Hawks in 2015 (2.6). TNT’s early Wizards-Hawks game had a 1.8; there was no game in the comparable time slot last year or in 2015.
The results were not as impressive on Saturday. Pacers-Cavaliers Game 1 had a 2.9 on ABC, down 26% from last year’s Rockets-Warriors game, down 9% from Pelicans-Warriors in 2015 (3.2), and the network’s lowest overnight on the opening weekend of the playoffs since Pistons-Cavaliers in 2009 (2.7).
On ESPN, Grizzlies-Spurs scored a 2.3 — up a tick from Celtics-Hawks last year (2.2) and even with Bulls-Bucks in ’15. Jazz-Clippers had a 2.1, down a tick from Mavericks-Thunder last year (2.2) and down 25% from Mavericks-Rockets in ’15 (2.8). Bucks-Raptors brought up the rear with a 1.8; there was no game in the comparable window last year. ESPN’s full tripleheader averaged a 2.1, up 3% from last year’s three games (including a 1 PM ET Pacers-Raptors game).
(Wknd. numbers via ESPN, Sports Business Daily 4.17)
