An NBA doubleheader topped another routine night of sports viewership on Wednesday.
Wednesday’s Thunder-Celtics NBA regular season game averaged 1.17 million viewers on ESPN, followed by Cavaliers-Suns at 1.12 million — the two largest sports audiences of the day. Compared to the same night last year, the former increased 6% from Bulls-Bucks (1.10M) but the latter sank a third from Lakers-Clippers (1.66M), resulting in an overall 17% decline for the doubleheader (from 1.38 to 1.14 million).
Ranking a distant second, a Devils-Rangers NHL regular season game averaged a combined 559,000 across TNT (505K) and truTV (54K) — down 2% from Lightning-Rangers on TNT alone the same night last year (570K). The Oilers-Stars nightcap followed with 337,000 (297K on TNT and 40K on truTV), up 48% from Oilers-Ducks a year ago (228K) and lifting the full doubleheader to an 11% gain over last year (from 408K to 453K).
Returning to the hardwood, ESPN2 scored 312,000 for the Illinois-Villanova WBIT championship game (not to be confused with the Women’s NIT). The game did not air on Nielsen-rated television last year.
Further down the dial, a Concacaf Champions League match between Inter Miami of MLS and Monterrey of Liga MX drew 314,000 across TUDN (199K) and FS1 (115K). Lionel Messi did not play. USA Network drew 239,000 for a Luton Town-Arsenal English Premier League match earlier in the day. MLB Network drew 203,000 for a midday regional window (Cardinals-Padres or Guardians-Mariners), 200,000 in primetime (Giants-Dodgers or Blue Jays-Astros) and 141,000 in the early afternoon (Twins-Brewers or Rangers-Rays).
The opening day of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur drew 88,000 on Golf Channel.
Wednesday, April 3 sports ratings
Updated chart:
Original chart below:
