NBA Christmas Day ratings hit a multi-year high on ESPN/ABC.
The five-game NBA Christmas Day schedule averaged a 3.0 rating and 5.83 million viewers across ESPN and ABC, up 15% in ratings and 14% in viewership from last year (2.6, 5.10M) and up 30% and 28% respectively from 2016 (2.3, 4.56M). The NBA games faced NFL competition in both of those years.
This year’s Christmas slate ranks as the most-watched since 2011 (6.31M). That year, the holiday doubled as opening day of the lockout-shortened season (6.31M). It tied as the highest rated since 2012 (3.2).
Lakers-Warriors was the top game of the day with a combined 5.3 rating and 10.21 million viewers on ESPN and ABC, up 104% in ratings and 105% in viewership from last year on ABC (Rockets-Thunder: 2.6, 4.98M) and up 563% and 635% respectively from 2016 on ESPN (T’Wolves-Thunder: 0.8, 1.39M).
Compared to Cavaliers-Warriors last year, ratings increased 18% (from 4.5) and 16% (from 8.82M). That game aired in an earlier timeslot and overlapped with the NFL.
The Lakers’ blowout win ranks as the highest rated and most-watched NBA regular season game in three years. Cavaliers-Warriors had a 5.7 and 11.12 million on Christmas 2015. It also delivered the fifth-largest regular season audience since at least 2001.
Earlier in the day, Sixers-Celtics had a 3.7 and 7.35 million on ABC — up 19% in ratings and 18% in viewership from last year (Wizards-Celtics: 3.1, 6.23M) and up 32% and 34% respectively from 2016 (Bulls-Spurs: 2.8, 5.47M). Those games faced NFL competition.
Boston’s overtime win was the most-watched Christmas game sans-LeBron James since 2012 (Knicks-Lakers: 8.73M).
Rockets-Thunder drew a 3.1 (-31%) and 5.96 million (-32%). Keep in mind last year’s comparable window was Cavaliers-Warriors. Compared to the same matchup last year, which aired in primetime, Houston’s win increased 19% in both measures.
Bookending the five-game slate, Bucks-Knicks had a 1.7 (-11%) and 3.17 million (-7%) and Blazers-Jazz a 1.2 (+50%) and 2.19 million (+42%). Those games aired on ESPN alone.
Milwaukee’s win ranks as the lowest rated Christmas opener since 2013 (Bulls-Nets: 1.6) and the least-watched since 2014 (Wizards-Knicks: 3.04M). Utah’s win was the highest rated and most-watched Christmas nightcap since Kobe Bryant‘s final game on the holiday in 2015 (Clippers-Lakers: 1.6, 2.89M).
The full list of NBA Christmas Day ratings and viewership dating back to 2001 is available here.
[Numbers from ESPN]
