The NBA ratings slump is not abating, even as the league’s schedule improves.
Lakers-Rockets averaged a 1.85 rating and 2.92 million viewers on the season premiere of ABC’s NBA Saturday Primetime, down 10% in ratings and 14% in viewership from the same matchup last year (2.05, 3.39M) and down 30% and 35% respectively from Warriors-Rockets in 2018 (2.6, 4.47M).
The double-digit decline is especially notable given LeBron James was healthy and the Lakers 33-8 entering the game, while James was injured and the Lakers 25-21 a year ago.
Ratings and viewership were the lowest yet for the season premiere of NBA Saturday Primetime, which debuted in 2016.
Despite the lower numbers, the game delivered the sixth-largest audience of the NBA season. The Lakers have played in six of the top nine.
Earlier in the day, Clippers-Pelicans averaged a 1.0 and 1.47 million — down 29% in both measures from last year (Thunder-Sixers: 1.4, 2.06M) and down 43% and 47% respectively from 2018 (Thunder-Cavaliers: 1.8, 2.79M).
Shifting to Martin Luther King Day, Lakers-Celtics averaged 2.02 million viewers on TNT — up 5% from last year (Rockets-Sixers: 1.92M) but down 57% from Warriors-Cavaliers two years ago (4.68M).
Boston’s blowout win declined 24% from last season’s first meeting between the rivals, which took place in February (2.64M), and 25% from their first meeting two seasons ago, which took place in November (2.70M).
Later in the night, Warriors-Blazers averaged 1.21 million — down 51% from Warriors-Lakers last year (2.47M) and down 38% from Rockets-Clippers in ’18 (1.94M). The Pelicans-Grizzlies matinee averaged 651,000, down 2% from the same matchup last year (665K) and down 37% from Lakers-Grizzlies in ’18 (1.04M).
In other action, ESPN averaged 1.12 million for Blazers-Mavericks (-19%) and 968,000 for Bulls-Sixers (-6%) last Friday night.
While the NBA’s ratings this season have no doubt been affected by a weak early schedule and a rash of injuries — particularly to Golden State’s stars and Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson — it is increasingly apparent that ratings would be down regardless.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 1.22]
