The Miami Heat’s Game 2 upset of the Celtics led the national sports viewership charts for Wednesday, April 24, and also topped a crowded sports night in Boston.
Wednesday’s Heat-Celtics first round NBA playoff Game 2 averaged 3.13 million viewers across TNT (2.86M) and truTV (269K), down 18% from Lakers-Grizzlies on TNT alone last year (3.80M), but still the most-watched sporting event of the day.
Oklahoma City’s Game 2 rout of New Orleans followed with 3.02 million (TNT: 2.81M; truTV: 208K), up 19% from Timberwolves-Nuggets a year ago (2.54M). The full TNT doubleheader averaged 3.07 million, down 3% from last year (3.17M). Keep in mind last year’s doubleheader overlapped with a competing game on NBA TV.
Overall, the NBA Playoffs is averaging 3.16 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, TNT/truTV and NBA TV through Wednesday — down 8% from the same point last year (3.44M).
Shifting to the NHL, Bruins-Maple Leafs Game 3 averaged 1.24 million on ESPN, up 36% from Panthers-Bruins last year (909K). Keep in mind this year’s game aired in a standalone window and last year’s overlapped with a competing matchup.
Later in the night, Golden Knights-Stars Game 2 drew 1.00 million — up 69% from Kings-Oilers last year (595K). On TBS, this year’s Kings-Oilers series delivered just 272,000 — down 48% from Wild-Stars on ESPN2 a year ago (527K).
The Stanley Cup Playoffs is now averaging 832,000 viewers across ESPN, ESPN2, TBS and truTV, up 27% from 654,000 for the first five days of last year’s postseason (Monday-Friday).
With the Celtics, Bruins and Red Sox going head-to-head Wednesday night, Boston sports viewing broke down as follows: Heat-Celtics averaged 307,000 across TNT/truTV (170K) and NBC Sports Boston (137K), Bruins-Maple Leafs drew 300,000 across NESN (188K) and ESPN (112K) and the Red Sox brought up the rear with 59,000 on NESN1.
Returning to the national numbers, the day’s top non-playoff sportscast was a regional Major League Baseball window on MLB Network at 427,000. USA Network drew 206,000 for a Newcastle-Crystal Palace English Premier League match.
Wednesday, April 24 sports ratings
Updated chart:
Original chart below:
