The numbers were still on the low side, but viewership for the NBA All-Star Game jumped double-digits despite another high-scoring, low-intensity effort.
Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game averaged 5.5 million viewers across TNT, TBS and truTV, per Nielsen fast-nationals — up 20% from last year on TNT and TBS, the least-watched All-Star Game on record (4.6M). (Update: Final viewership figure is 5.4 million, up 18%.)
This year’s audience is still the second-lowest on record. Prior to the past two years, the least-watched All-Star Game was the hastily-scheduled 2021 edition that averaged 6.13 million.
The increase for this year’s All-Star Game is the highest in a single year since 2011 (+33%). This year marks just the fifth time since the game returned from hiatus in 2000 that the All-Star Game has posted a double-digit increase in viewership, joining 2002 (+69%), 2009 (+20%), 2011 and 2013 (+13%).
While some of the gain can be attributed to last year’s low bar, there are undoubtedly other factors. Among the possibilities, Warriors G Stephen Curry and Suns F Kevin Durant played in this year’s game after missing last year due to injury. The NBA returned to the East-West format after years of an All-Star draft. In addition, the NBA cut down on the lengthy pregame introductions and halftime show.
No matter the reason, it is clear that the low-intensity nature of the game is not inherently a ratings drag. The East won 211-186 in a game that set offensive records and has since been widely criticized.
Compared to other pro sports All-Star games, the NBA edition still trails the NFL “Pro Bowl Games,” which averaged 5.79 million across the ESPN networks earlier this month. The MLB All-Star Game remains the king of the format, as its record-low 7.01 million last summer still clears the rest of the field by seven figures.
The NBA All-Star Game typically ranks as the highest rated in the key young demographics, but those figures were not immediately available.
For the season, the All-Star Game ranks as the most-watched NBA game on any network — surpassing Celtics-Lakers on ABC Christmas Day (5.01M).
The double-digit increase for the NBA All-Star Game follows a similar jump for NBA All-Star Saturday Night. Due to the Presidents Day holiday, final nationals will be out Wednesday. Figures for the Friday night festivities should be available Tuesday.
