NBA Christmas ratings increased double-digits in the metered markets, though the Cavaliers-Warriors centerpiece took a hit from the NFL.
Monday’s Warriors-Cavaliers NBA Christmas special earned a 5.5 overnight rating on ABC, down 7% from the same matchup last year (5.9) but up 34% from Bulls-Thunder in 2015 (4.1).
The 5.5 tied the third-highest NBA Christmas overnight in the past five years, matching Cavs-Heat in 2014 and behind the two previous Cavs-Warriors games. Overall, it is at best tied for 11th out of the 31 Christmas games on ABC.
Golden State’s narrow win faced tougher competition than a year ago. The competing Steelers-Texans NFL game had an 8.9 overnight on NFL Network and NBC, up 27% over Steelers-Ravens on NFL Network alone last year (7.0). The games overlapped for longer than last year, as the NBA started a half-hour later (3 PM ET, as opposed to 2:30).
It was the day’s only game to decline. In primetime, Rockets-Thunder drew a 4.1 — up 310% from Timberwolves-Thunder last year (1.1) and up 64% from Spurs-Rockets in 2015 (2.5), both of which aired on ESPN. The 4.1 is the highest for a primetime game on Christmas since 2003, not coincidentally the last time ABC carried a primetime game on the holiday.
Rounding out the network’s tripleheader, Wizards-Celtics had a 3.7 (+9%).
Overnights were flat for both games on cable. Sixers-Knicks had a 2.4 overnight on ESPN, even with Celtics-Knicks last year (2.4) and up a tick from Pelicans-Heat in 2015 (2.3). It tied the highest Noon overnight on the holiday since 2012 (Celtics-Nets: 2.7).
TNT’s Timberwolves-Lakers nightcap had a mere 1.1, matching last year but down 50% from 2015, both of which were Clippers-Lakers games on ESPN.
Overall, the full five-game Christmas schedule averaged a 3.4 overnight, up 21% from last year per Sports Business Daily.
[Mon. numbers from ESPN, Sports Business Daily 12.26]
