A pair of NBA game sixes topped the sports viewership charts for Friday, May 3.
Friday’s Clippers-Mavericks first round NBA playoff Game 6 averaged 3.90 million viewers on ESPN, preceded by Cavaliers-Magic at 2.94 million — down 16 and 41 percent respectively from last year’s higher-profile doubleheader of Grizzlies-Lakers (4.64M) and Kings-Warriors (4.98M), which were two of the three most-watched first round games ever on ESPN despite facing the NFL Draft. The games were still the most-watched sporting events of the day.
As of Friday, NBA playoff games were averaging 3.11 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, TNT/truTV and NBA TV — down 5% from last year (3.27M).
Shifting to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Stars-Golden Knights Game 6 averaged 1.14 million across TNT (819K) and truTV (323K) — nearly doubling Stars-Wild in the similar window last year (578K), which aired opposite a competing game on TBS. Canucks-Predators led in with a combined 819,000 (TNT: 621K; truTV: 198K), down 24% from Bruins-Panthers a year ago (1.07M), which also faced competing coverage on TBS.
Further down the list, sprint qualifying for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix drew 406,000 on ESPN2, more-than-doubling a practice session in the same window last year (202K). It was preceded by a practice session at 265,000 (-5%).
Second round coverage of the PGA Tour Byron Nelson tournament had 317,000 on Golf Channel, down 13% from 363,000 last year. Horse racing’s Kentucky Oaks averaged 189,000 on USA Network, down 27% from last year’s 259,000.
MLB Network drew 210,000 for a Brewers-Cubs matinee and 199,000 for primetime regional action. An Oklahoma-Oklahoma State college softball game drew 185,000 on FS1, topping a Texas A&M-LSU college baseball game on ESPN2 at 139,000. Not making the below chart, BTN drew 50,000 for a Nebraska-Minnesota softball game and 30,000 for Indiana-Northwestern earlier in the day.
Nine hours of NCAA women’s beach volleyball tournament coverage averaged just 20,000 on ESPNU, topping out at 32,000 for Hawaii-Loyola Marymount.
Friday, May 3 sports ratings
Updated chart:
Original chart below (includes WWE Smackdown):
