A ratings roundup of the latest numbers from the NBA, NASCAR, F1, the NWSL, Liga MX and NHL.
C’s-Cavs tops recent NBA
Wednesday’s Celtics-Cavaliers NBA regular season game averaged a 0.8 rating and 1.37 million viewers on ESPN, on par with Hawks-Nets last year (0.8, ~1.3M) and the most-watched NBA game of the past week. The Grizzlies-Trail Blazers nightcap combined for 1.26 million across ESPN and ESPN2, down sharply from Hornets-Warriors a year ago (~1.8M).
On Tuesday, Bulls-Nets drew a 0.8 and 1.26 million on TNT — up more than 20% from Heat-Mavericks last year (0.6, ~1.0M). Timberwolves-Suns followed with 1.16 million viewers, up sharply from last year (Pelicans-Suns: 0.55, ~866K).
Going back to last Friday, ESPN drew a 0.52 and 1.03 million for Pelicans-Suns — down 4% in ratings but up in viewership compared to Mavericks-Nuggets last year (0.54, ~937K). Pacers-Wizards led in with a 0.42 and 736,000, down more than a quarter from last year’s Hornets-Heat game (0.57, 1.01M).
NASCAR Martinsville and F1 Mexico both dip
Last Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff race from Martinsville (Va.) averaged a 1.5 rating and 2.54 million viewers on NBC, down from last year (1.6, ~2.6M) and a three-year low. The race dominated the competing Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix on ESPN (0.55, 1.03M) and — in a reversal from the previous week — outdrew F1 in adults 18-49 (477K to 451K).
As for the F1 race, the audience of 1.03 million viewers marked a rare year-over-year decline. Last year’s race averaged 1.14 million on ABC, per Sports Business Journal writer Adam Stern.
NWSL scores record audience in primetime OTA debut
Last Saturday’s Portland-Kansas City NWSL final averaged a 0.52 rating and 915,000 viewers on CBS, marking the league’s largest audience ever. The previous high was 653,000 for the final of the NWSL Challenge Cup two years ago. Viewership jumped 71% from last year’s final, which aired in a Noon ET window as opposed to primetime.
In other soccer action last weekend, the second leg of the Liga MX final averaged 1.94 million on Univision — down from last year’s second leg, which aired on its normal December weekend (~2.4M).
Another healthy number for NHL on ESPN
Tuesday’s Bruins-Penguins NHL regular season game averaged a 0.38 rating and 699,000 viewers on ESPN, the third-largest audience of the young season, with ESPN accounting for each of the top three. The Ducks-Sharks nightcap drew 234,000. The network did not carry any games on the comparable night last season.
On TNT Wednesday, Penguins-Sabres drew a 0.14 and 236,000, the network’s least-watched game of the season.
(Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 11.1)
