The NBA on ABC had a rough weekend in the ratings. Also: the PGA Tour Phoenix Open hit a nine-year low; a pair of increases for college basketball and the NHL.
Rough weekend for NBA on ABC
Sixers-Celtics averaged a 1.1 rating and 1.66 million viewers on ABC’s NBA Saturday Primetime last weekend, marking the network’s lowest rated and least-watched primetime NBA game since Cavaliers-Clippers three years ago, which aired opposite the NCAA Tournament and did not feature then-Cavalier LeBron James (1.0, 1.65M).
Ratings sank 56% and viewership 59% from Lakers-Warriors last year (2.5, 4.09M) and 39% and 44% respectively from Rockets-Cavaliers in 2018 (1.8, 2.97M).
On Super Bowl Sunday, ABC averaged a 1.2 and 1.99 million for Pelicans-Rockets — down 25% in ratings and 21% in viewership from both last year (Thunder-Celtics: 1.6, 2.52M) and 2018 (Lakers-Thunder: 1.6, 2.53M).
All eight ABC windows this season have declined, with four down more than 20 percent.
Nine-year low for Phoenix Open
Sunday’s final round of the PGA Tour Phoenix Open averaged a 1.75 rating and 2.87 million viewers on CBS, marking the tournament’s smallest final round audience since 2011 (2.70M). Webb Simpson’s playoff win, which ended shortly before the Super Bowl began, declined 30% in ratings and viewership from both last year and 2018 (2.5, 4.08M).
Third round action on Saturday averaged a 1.45 and 2.19 million, down 16% in both measures from last year (1.7, 2.60M) and down 30% and 34% respectively from 2018 (2.1, 3.30M).
Solid bump for Kentucky-Auburn
Saturday’s Kentucky-Auburn men’s college basketball game averaged a 1.2 rating and 1.95 million viewers on ESPN, up a tick in ratings and 10% in viewership from last year (Indiana-Michigan State: 1.1, 1.77M) and up a third and 40% respectively from 2018 (Oklahoma-Texas: 0.9, 1.39M).
Later in the night, Duke-Syracuse averaged a 1.0 and 1.74 million. There was no comparable window last year.
Shifting to the broadcast networks, FOX averaged a 0.85 and 1.25 million for Michigan State-Wisconsin and a 0.41 and 592,000 for Xavier-Seton Hall on Saturday; CBS drew a 0.59 and 909,000 for Georgetown-St. John’s on Sunday and a 0.59 and 811,000 for UConn-Memphis on Saturday; ABC drew a 0.46 and 618,000 for Oklahoma State-Oklahoma on Saturday. There were no comparable windows last year.
Pens-Caps up on NBC
Penguins-Capitals averaged a 0.7 rating and 1.09 million viewers on the NHL on NBC Sunday afternoon, flat in ratings but up 7% in viewership from last year (Bruins-Capitals: 0.7, 1.03M). Three of NBC’s four NHL windows this season have posted increases, the Winter Classic being the lone exception.
[Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 2.4]
