An emotional pregame and revamped format helped the NBA All-Star Game rebound from last year’s low.
The 2020 NBA All-Star Game averaged a 4.1 rating and 7.3 million viewers across TNT and TBS Sunday night, per Nielsen fast-nationals — up 8% from last year (3.8, 6.80M) but down 5% from 2018 (4.3, 7.65M). Ratings were not immediately available.
The competitive game, the first under a revamped format in which the teams had to reach a target score in order to win, posted the biggest jump for an NBA All-Star Game since 2013 (+13%). It was the first All-Star Game to increase in three years.
Viewership peaked during the fourth quarter at 8.0 million (11:15-11:30 PM ET). Last year’s peak was unavailable, but the 2018 peak (8.2M) occurred midway through the game (9:15-9:30 PM).
Sunday’s game still ranks just seventh out of the last ten NBA All-Star games, but in a season marked by declining ratings, any increase constitutes a win.
The All-Star Game likely benefited from stronger-than-usual viewership for the pregame introductions, which featured tributes to the late Lakers star Kobe Bryant. TNT averaged 6.3 million viewers leading into the game from 8-8:30 PM, up 19% from last year.
Overall, all four of the All-Star weekend events increased over last year. TNT’s portion of the weekend — the Rising Stars Challenge, All-Star Saturday Night and All-Star Game — increased 15 percent. ESPN’s NBA All-Star Celebrity game rose nine percent.
NBA All-star ratings and viewership dating back to 1990 are available here.
[Nielsen estimates from NBA/Turner Sports]
