ABC ended its shortest NBA season slightly off of last year’s pace.
Not counting Christmas, ABC averaged 2.64 million viewers for its 15 NBA telecasts during the regular season — down 1% from last year’s 16-game schedule (2.66M). The network aired just five Sunday games this season, down from nine last year and the fewest for an over-the-air NBA package in decades.
Though down overall, the network’s viewership in adults 18-49 increased 1% to 909,000.
ABC’s regular season finale, Bucks-Warriors last Saturday night, averaged a 1.5 and 2.65 million — down a tick in ratings and 8% in viewership from the same matchup last year (1.6, 2.89M). Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo, who played in last year’s game, missed this year’s matchup due to injury. Antetokounmpo missed all three of the Bucks’ ABC games since Christmas.
Bucks-Warriors marks the earliest regular season finale on broadcast television in recent memory. ABC’s next scheduled window is Game 1 of a first round playoff series on April 15.
In other NBA action, Monday’s Suns-Warriors game averaged 1.88 million viewers on ESPN, up a third from Bucks-Jazz last year (1.41M). The Grizzlies-Mavericks lead-in drew 1.22 million, down 25% from Nuggets-Sixers a year ago (1.62M). Ratings were not immediately available.
Facing the Academy Awards Sunday night, ESPN drew a 1.0 and 1.69 million for Knicks-Lakers — flat and down 5% respectively from Lakers-Suns absent such competition last year (1.0, 1.77M).
Going back to last week, TNT drew a 0.8 and 1.37 million for Warriors-Grizzlies and a 0.7 and 1.27 million for Knicks-Kings last Thursday night — both down well over a third from last year’s equivalent games (Nets-Sixers: 1.5, 2.49M; Warriors-Nuggets: 1.2, 1.99M).
ESPN drew a 0.7 and 1.18 million for Mavericks-Pelicans and a 0.6 and 998,000 for Raptors-Clippers last Wednesday, both up from last year’s comparable games (Suns-Heat: 0.7, 1.12M; Blazers-Jazz: 0.45, 760K).
Finally, TNT drew a 0.8 and 1.35 million for Grizzlies-Lakers a week ago Tuesday — up a tick in ratings and 20% in viewership from Clippers-Warriors last year (0.7, 1.12M) — with the Sixers-Timberwolves lead-in at a mere 0.52 (-20%) and 886,000 (-16%).
(Nielsen estimates from ShowBuzz Daily 3.14, NBA)
