A matchup of MVP candidates scored a slight viewership bump on TNT. Also: the NHL on NBC hit a season-low, and a channel switch boosted the Women’s NCAA Tournament Monday night.
Slight bump for MVP head-to-head
Tuesday’s Rockets-Bucks NBA regular season game scored a 0.9 rating and 1.41 million viewers on TNT, flat in ratings and up 3% in viewership from last year (Cavaliers-Heat: 0.9, 1.37M), but down 21% and 22% respectively from 2017 (Cavaliers-Spurs: 1.15, 1.80M).
The league-leading Bucks have played in 15 windows on ESPN/ABC and TNT that can be compared to last year. Of those, Tuesday’s game was just the fifth to post an increase in ratings or viewership.
Later in the night, Wizards-Lakers had a 0.7 and 1.09 million — up a tick in ratings and 25% in viewership from last year (Bucks-Clippers: 0.6, 874K) and up 17% and 16% respectively from 2017 (Pelicans-Jazz: 0.6, 942K).
On Wednesday night, ESPN drew a 0.9 and 1.29 million for Pacers-Thunder, and a 0.7 (-13%) and 970,000 (-18%) for Lakers-Jazz. The latter was the least-watched Laker game on ESPN/ABC or TNT this season. ESPN’s broadcast was blacked out in Los Angeles.
NHL on NBC hits season-low
Last Sunday’s Flyers-Capitals NHL regular season game scored a 0.5 rating and 723,000 viewers on NBC, down 29% in ratings and a third in viewership from last year (Flyers-Penguins: 0.7, 1.07M), and down 17% and 24% respectively from 2017 (Wild-Red Wings: 0.6, 946K).
The Capitals’ win ranks as the lowest rated and least-watched game on NBC this season.
Shifting to NBCSN, Rangers-Bruins had a 0.29 and 457,000 (+48%) Wednesday, followed by Golden Knights-Avalanche at a 0.19 and 332,000. NBCSN also drew a 0.20 (-26%) and 339,000 (-24%) for Avalanche-Blackhawks on Sunday; 288,000 viewers for Predators-Wild on Monday (+32%); and 278,000 for Hurricanes-Capitals on Tuesday (no comparison available).
Channel switch lifts women’s tourney Monday night
The second half of Monday’s Women’s NCAA Tournament doubleheader on ESPN earned a 0.61 rating and 904,000 viewers — up 62% in viewership from last year (557K) and up 54% from 2017 (586K), both of which aired on ESPN2. It was the highest rated and most-watched window on the opening weekend of play.
The first half of the doubleheader had a 0.6 and 845,000 (+52%), ranking second among opening weekend windows. The nightcap — BYU-Stanford on ESPN2 — had 246,000. There was no comparable window last year.
The top individual game of the tournament thus far was UConn-Buffalo on ESPN Sunday, which had a 0.29 (+7%) and 448,000 (+9%). Averages for the full tournament were not immediately available.
[Numbers from Nielsen via Programming Insider 3.27, 3.28; ShowBuzz Daily 3.26]
