NBA Finals ratings sank in the Bay Area and Cleveland. In other news, ESPN scored a big increase for Nationals-Yankees on Wednesday night and F1 and IndyCar both posted steep declines last weekend.
NBA Finals Ratings Down in Bay Area, Cleveland
The series averaged a 32.3 rating in Cleveland, down 7% from last year (34.7) and down 17% from 2016 (38.8). As in the Bay Area, it was the lowest rated of the four Golden State-Cleveland series.
Columbus, Ohio, ranked third among all markets with an 18.1 average (-9%). Nationally, NBA Finals ratings fell 12% to a four-year low. [Crain’s Cleveland 6.13]
Nats-Yanks Up Big on ESPN
On Tuesday, ESPN drew a 0.37 and 553,000 for Mets-Braves; there was no comparable window last year. [Programming Insider 6.13, 6.14]
F1, IndyCar, Down Big Last Weekend
In other action, Saturday’s IndyCar race from Texas earned a 0.21 (-40%) and 336,000 on NBCSN (-40%) — the smallest audience for the race since at least 2011.
Finally, NHRA eliminations from Richmond (Va.) had a 0.24 and 374,000 on FS1 Sunday. It was the first edition of the race since 2009. [ShowBuzz Daily 6.12]
