The NBA Playoffs swept the top four sports audiences of a busy day on Saturday, April 20.
The opening day of the NBA Playoffs averaged a 2.0 rating and 3.75 million viewers across ESPN and ABC, down a tick in ratings and 5% in viewership from last year (2.1, 3.96M). Lakers-Nuggets led the way with a 2.8 and 5.65 million on ABC, trailing only Warriors-Kings in the same window last year (6.26M) as the most-watched opening day playoff game since 1999.
Sixers-Knicks led-in with a 2.1 and 4.19 million, the most-watched first round opener on ESPN since the network reacquired rights to the league. For a full breakdown of the opening day — and opening weekend — NBA playoff ratings, see the preceding link.
Outside of the NBA Playoffs, the day’s top sportscast was the third round of the PGA Tour Heritage tournament at a 1.1 and 1.91 million on CBS — down 13% and 9% respectively from last year’s 1.3 and 2.09 million. Competing weather delay coverage of the LPGA Tour Dinah Shore Championship, the season’s first major, had a 0.30 and 456,000 on NBC.
Placing second among non-NBA fare, NASCAR Xfinity Series racing from Talladega drew at a 0.9 and 1.60 million on FOX — up from last year’s 0.8 and 1.31 million.
Shifting to the NHL playoffs, Maple Leafs-Bruins Game 1 drew a 0.59 and 1.14 million across TBS and truTV — at the time, the largest audience on record for a first round opener on cable. (It was subsequently surpassed by Capitals-Rangers on ESPN Sunday.) Islanders-Hurricanes led in with a 0.46 and 873,000. For more on the Stanley Cup playoff ratings, see the preceding link.
In the UFL, ABC averaged a 0.6 and 954,000 for a Memphis-St. Louis matinee, while FOX drew a 0.55 and 951,000 for a primetime regional window. One of those regional games — DC-Birmingham — was weather delayed and had to conclude on FS1, where it averaged a 0.08 and 137,000.
Elsewhere in football, Michigan’s spring game drew a 0.30 and 505,000 on FOX — down from Ohio State’s spring game the prior week (0.41, 660K).
ABC’s UFL game led into the NCAA women’s gymnastics national championship at a 0.49 and 856,000, down 20% and 16% respectively from last year’s 16-year high (0.6, 1.02M) and the smallest audience for the event in the three years since it returned to broadcast television.
Liga MX led the day in soccer with a 0.37 and 812,000 for a UNAM-Club America on Univision. CBS posted a 0.30 and 430,000 for a Washington-NJ/NY NWSL match, while ION drew a 0.12 and 204,000 for Bay FC-Kansas City and a 0.07 and 115,000 for Houston-Portland. The Premier League topped out a 0.20 and 387,000 for Arsenal-Wolves.
In Formula 1, the Chinese Grand Prix drew a 0.34 and 626,000 on ESPN — surpassing the two previous late night Grands Prix this season, Japan on ESPN earlier this month (484K) and Australia on ESPN2 last month (541K).
Leading out of Sixers-Knicks, ESPN drew a 0.32 and 569,000 for an Alabama-Arkansas college softball game — the largest softball audience of the season. LSU-Tennessee drew a 0.12 and 186,000 on ESPN2 earlier in the day. A Mets-Dodgers Major League Baseball game on FS1 drew a 0.23 and 395,000 and Rays-Yankees on MLB Network a 0.19 and 326,000 earlier in the day. MLB Network’s primetime regional window was further back at a 0.08 and 138,00.
Rounding out the busy slate, the Olympic wrestling trials drew a 0.09 and 162,000 on USA Network.
Saturday, April 20 sports ratings
