After the most-watched Opening Week in six years, NBA viewership was noticeably softer in week two of the season. Plus: F1 and NASCAR went in opposite directions last weekend; NHL viewership remains up double-digits.
After strong opening week, NBA softer in week two
NBA regular season games were averaging 1.40 million viewers across TNT, ESPN and NBA TV through Thursday, up 3% from the same point last year (1.36M). On TNT and ESPN alone, the games have averaged 2.00 million — actually down from 2.07 million a year ago.
After the most-watched Opening Week in six years (2.35M, +10%), viewership took a hit from the World Series in week two. Five of six windows that aired opposite the World Series declined from the comparable week of last season, at which point the Fall Classic had yet to begin.
TNT averaged 1.46 million viewers for Spurs-Suns (-37%) and 1.30 million for Knicks-Cavaliers (-20%) opposite Tuesday’s Game 4 and ESPN drew 1.48 million for Clippers-Lakers (-18%) and 1.03 million for Pelicans-Thunder (-48%) versus Wednesday’s Game 5. Facing Game 1 the prior Friday, ESPN averaged a 1.0 rating (-7%) and 1.76 million (-8%) for Warriors-Kings and a 0.9 (+13%) and 1.58 million (+12%) for Heat-Celtics.
Not all of the declines can be attributed to the competition. On NBA TV Thursday night, Spurs-Suns — featuring Victor Wembanyama’s 38-point performance — averaged 580,000 viewers, down 12% from Heat-Warriors last year (658K).
F1 scores big jump, record-high, for Mexican GP
Last Sunday’s Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix averaged 1.46 million viewers on ABC, up 42% from last year (1.03M) and the largest audience for the race since it returned to the schedule in 2015. Viewership peaked at 1.94 million from 6 PM ET through the conclusion.
F1 racing is now averaging 1.12 million viewers across the ESPN networks, down 7% from the same point last year (1.21M).
In a competing window on NBC, NASCAR Cup Series playoff racing from Martinsville averaged a 1.2 rating and 2.20 million viewers — down 18% in ratings and 14% in viewership from last year (1.5, 2.54M) and the least-watched edition of the race since 2018 on NBCSN (2.15M).
While NASCAR won the head-to-head overall, F1 won comfortably in the key adult demographics of 18-49 (332K to 280K) and 18-34 (152K to 117K) — and that is including the 90-minute pre-race window.
NHL still up double-digits
NHL regular season games are averaging 534,000 viewers across TNT, TBS and ESPN this season, up 13% from last year (472K). ESPN on Tuesday averaged 418,000 for Kings-Maple Leafs, down 40% from Bruins-Penguins last year (699K). TNT the following night scored 309,000 for Sabres-Flyers — up 31% from Penguins-Sabres a year ago (236K) — and 212,000 for the Blues-Avalanche nightcap.
Last weekend’s Flames-Oilers Heritage Classic on TBS averaged a 0.15 rating and 271,000 viewers. That game and the aforementioned Blues-Avalanche rank as the two least-watched of the young season.
(Nielsen estimates from this website 10.31, Sports TV Ratings 11.1, 11.2, 11.3)
