ESPN had a slight decline for a pair of NBA game sixes Friday night. In other news, NBC posted an increase for primetime NHL playoff action Saturday, while NBCSN saw declines for its NHL coverage the previous night.
NBA Game Sixes Down on ESPN
- Friday’s Clippers-Jazz NBA Playoffs Game 6 had a 1.8 final rating and 2.8 million viewers on ESPN, flat in ratings and down 3% in viewership from Clippers-Blazers last year (1.8, 2.9M). Despite the drop, it was the night’s top program on a single network in adults 18-49 (1.1) and 18-34 (1.1). Earlier in the night, Celtics-Bulls had a 1.4 and 2.2 million — down a tick in ratings and 5% in viewership from Heat-Hornets last year (1.5, 2.3M) but up a tick and 10% respectively from Hawks-Nets in ’15 (1.3, 2.0M). Wizards-Hawks brought up the rear with a combined 642,000 on ESPNU (355K) and NBA TV (287K). In the same window last year, Raptors-Pacers had 272,000 on NBA TV but no measured audience on ESPNEWS (which is not rated).
Pens-Caps Overnight Up on NBC
- Saturday’s Penguins-Capitals Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 2 earned a 1.85 overnight rating on NBC, up 7% from the same matchup last year (1.73). There was no comparable window in 2015. Shifting to the afternoon games, Rangers-Senators Game 2 had a 1.3 on Saturday (+30%) and Blues-Predators Game 3 also had a 1.3 on Sunday (-7%).
NHL Down on NBCSN Friday Night
- Predators-Blues Game 2 earned 748,000 viewers on NBCSN Friday night, down 19% from Blues-Stars last year (923K) and down 34% from Lightning-Canadiens in 2015 (1.1M). Ratings fell 15% year-over-year (from 0.53 to 0.45). In the nightcap, Oilers-Ducks had a 0.3 (-25%) and 571,000 (-16%).
(Numbers via Programming Insider 5.1, NBC Sports Group Press Box 5.1)
