Sunday’s NBA playoff ratings were a mixed bag in the metered markets. Meanwhile, the Penguins-Flyers series is moving the needle for NBC Sports and the WNBA Draft delivered its largest audience in four years.
NBA Playoff Ratings: Sunday Overnights Mixed Bag
Over on TNT, Game 1 of Timberwolves-Rockets had a 3.1 overnight — down 11% from last year (Thunder-Rockets: 3.5) but up 7% from 2016 (Grizzlies-Spurs: 2.9). Jazz-Thunder drew a 3.0 earlier in the night (-12%) and Bucks-Celtics a 2.2 in the afternoon (+22%).
Penguins-Flyers Up Big Friday and Sunday
The Penguins’ win scored a 22.8 rating in Pittsburgh, the market’s highest ever for a first round game on the NBC family of networks.
On Friday, Game 2 of the series had 715,000 viewers on NBCSN — up 51% from last year (Blues-Wild: 474K) and up 13% from 2016 (Blackhawks-Blues: 633K). Ratings were not immediately available. In other action, Kings-Golden Knights drew 624,000 later in the night (+17%) and Wild-Jets drew 355,000 on USA Network (-42%).
WNBA Draft Most-Watched in Four Years
[Numbers from Sports Business Daily 4.16, NBC Sports, ESPN PR 4.16]
