After a modest increase for Opening Night, the two subsequent nights of the NBA season have seen sharp declines. Plus: the NHL continues to see sharp declines of its own; the F1 USGP and NASCAR Cup Series from Las Vegas both posted increases last weekend.
Sharp declines for NBA Wednesday and Thursday
Wednesday’s NBA opening week doubleheader on ESPN averaged 1.6 million viewers, down 42% from last year — when coverage featured #1 pick Victor Wembanyama’s debut — but up 5% from 2022. Bucks-Sixers had a 1.0 rating and 1.71 million viewers, down a third from Celtics-Knicks last year (1.5, 2.55M), and the Suns-Clippers nightcap followed with 1.52 million (-49%). Keep in mind both games were absent some key players, including Sixers stars Joel Embiid and Paul George and the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard.
On Thursday, TNT drew a 0.7 and 1.45 million for Spurs-Mavericks — down 38% and 29% respectively from Sixers-Bucks a year ago (1.2, 2.04M). Figures for the Thunder-Nuggets nightcap were not immediately available.
NHL down big again in third week
Tuesday’s NHL “Frozen Frenzy” tripleheader averaged 383,000 on ESPN, with whiparound coverage at 83,000 on ESPN2 — down 11% and 58% respectively from last year (432K and 196K). Capitals-Flyers led off the ESPN tripleheader with 477,000, up from Maple Leafs-Capitals last year (475K), but the two subsequent games dragged down the average as Avalanche-Kraken drew 422,000 (-20%) and Kings-Golden Knights 245,000 (-12%).
In other NHL action, TNT drew a 339,000 for Flyers-Capitals on Wednesday night — down 25% from Capitals-Devils a year ago (452K).
F1 USGP and NASCAR Vegas both up
Last Sunday’s Formula 1 United States Grand Prix averaged 1.30 million viewers on ABC, up from last year (1.17M) and the third-largest audience on record for the race, trailing 2022 (1.34M) and the record of 1.41 million in 2021. The full telecast window, including 90 minutes of pre-race coverage, averaged a 0.54 rating and 972,000 viewers.
In the competing window on NBC, NASCAR Cup Series racing from Las Vegas drew a 1.2 and 2.23 million — down a tick in ratings but up 6% in viewership from last year (1.3, 2.19M). Joey Logano’s win, which peaked with 2.9 million, trails only 2022 as the most-watched edition of the race in the past five years.
While NASCAR won the overall head-to-head, F1 won out among adults 18-49 (470K to 351K).
In other racing action, Xfinity Series racing from Las Vegas drew a 0.44 and 755,000 on CW Saturday night — down from last year’s 0.46 and 810,000 in an afternoon slot on USA.
