The NBA Playoffs topped a busy day in sports television on Sunday, April 28.
Sunday’s Clippers-Mavericks first round NBA playoff Game 4 averaged a 3.0 rating and 5.56 million viewers on ABC — down double-digits from Kings-Warriors last year, but the top sportscast of the day.
The NBA delivered the day’s top four sports audiences, with Knicks-Sixers leading in at a 2.6 (+13%) and 4.65 million (+17%), Suns-Timberwolves closing out the night at a 2.0 (+14%) and 3.62 million (+14%) on TNT and Bucks-Pacers bringing up the rear at a 1.8 (-7%) and 3.45 million (-10%). For more on Sunday’s NBA playoff ratings, see the preceding link.
Outside of the NBA, NASCAR Cup Series racing from Dover (Del.) topped the charts with a 1.3 and 2.40 million on FS1 — the most-watched of three FS1 races this season. This year marked the first time in three years that spring Dover race was run as scheduled. The competing IndyCar race from Alabama drew a 0.45 and 763,000 on NBC, down 21% and 18% respectively from a year ago (0.6, 930K), and tape-delayed NHRA led out of NASCAR with a 0.33 and 607,000.
In golf, final round coverage of the PGA Tour New Orleans tournament drew a 1.1 and 1.85 million, up 25% in ratings and 26% in viewership from last year (0.9, 1.47M) and a three-year high. LIV Golf chipped in a 0.10 and 160,000 on CW.
ESPN placed further back with a 0.7 and 1.28 million for Cubs-Red Sox on Sunday Night Baseball, a figure that includes about a half-hour of pregame coverage. Ratings declined a tick and viewership 10% from Phillies-Astros last year (0.8, 1.42M). The game was preceded by Astros-Rockies from Mexico City at a 0.33 and 630,000.
Shifting to the NHL playoffs, Rangers-Capitals topped the Sunday charts with a 0.7 and 1.40 million across TBS and truTV — the largest audience of the playoffs thus far. Canucks-Predators placed second for the day with a 0.44 and 871,000. For more on the Stanley Cup ratings, see the preceding link.
Soccer topped out at a 0.49 and 940,000 for a Manchester City-Nottingham Premier League match on USA (0.32, 625K) and Telemundo (0.16, 315K), preceded by Arsenal-Tottenham at a 0.42 and 784,000 (USA: 0.32, 593K; Telemundo: 0.10, 191K).
Further down the dial, NBC drew a 0.49 and 790,000 for track and field’s Bermuda Games, up 20% in ratings and 24% in viewership from last year, when the event aired in May (0.41, 636K). FOX drew a 0.43 and 731,000 for Michigan-Memphis UFL action, preceded by St. Louis-DC on ESPN at a 0.38 and 688,000. CBS drew a 0.32 and 501,000 for Pro Bull Riding — the least-watched PBR event on broadcast since October (0.26, 358K).
Rounding out the day’s slate, a Tennessee-Alabama college softball game drew a 0.17 and 293,000 on ESPN2, preceded by Florida-Georgia at a 0.12 and 213,000.
Sunday, April 28 sports ratings
