The Browns gave NFL Network another bump in the ratings last weekend. Also: more declines for the NBA, and an increase for the Liga MX final.
Browns Boost NFL Network Again
Saturday’s Browns-Broncos NFL regular season game scored a 4.2 rating and 7.29 million viewers on NFL Network, up 5% in ratings and 4% in viewership from last year (Chargers-Chiefs: 4.0, 6.99M), and up 68% and 66% respectively from 2016 (Jets-Dolphins: 2.5, 4.39M).
The Browns’ win was the most-watched Saturday NFL game on NFL Network since 2015 (Washington-Philadelphia: 4.7, 8.15M). Cleveland’s previous appearance on NFL Network this season was the channel’s most-watched telecast since 2016.
Earlier in the day, Texans-Jets had a 2.9 (-6%) and 4.76 million (-8%).
Double-Digit Declines For Friday NBA
Last Friday’s Thunder-Nuggets NBA regular season game scored 1.30 million viewers on ESPN, down a third from last year (Spurs-Rockets: 1.94M) but up 22% from 2016 (Mavericks-Jazz: 1.06M). Earlier in the night, Pacers-Sixers had 1.1 million (-43%). Ratings were not immediately available.
So far this season, ESPN and TNT have aired 43 NBA games that can be compared to last year, of which 27 have declined.
Liga MX Final Up, EPL Hits Cable High
Sunday’s second leg of the Club America-Cruz Azul Liga MX Apertura final earned 2.5 million viewers across Univision and Univision Deportes Network, up 4% from last year (2.4M), but down 19% from 2016, when the telecast aired on Christmas Day (3.1M).
The first leg had 2.3 million last Thursday, about even with last year.
Earlier Sunday, NBCSN scored a 0.48 rating and 819,000 viewers for Manchester United-Liverpool in the English Premier League — marking the most-watched match of the season on cable,
In other soccer action, last Tuesday’s Barcelona-Tottenham UEFA Champions League match had 297,000 viewers on TNT. Last year’s comparable figures were unavailable.
[Numbers from Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 12.13, 12.18; Univision 12.18; NBC Sports PR/Twitter 12.17]
