Competition from the World Series kept the numbers relatively soft, but NBA Opening Night still delivered double-digit gains on TNT.
Tuesday’s Cavaliers/Bulls NBA Opening Night game earned a 2.1 final rating and 3.5 million viewers on TNT, up 40% in ratings and 50% in viewership from Mavericks/Spurs last year (1.5, 2.3M), but down 36% in both measures from Bulls/Heat in 2013, which did not face the World Series (3.3, 5.4M). Viewership peaked at 4.2 million from 10:15-10:30 PM ET.
The Bulls’ win aired opposite Game 1 of the World Series on FOX, which had a 9.0 rating and 14.9 million viewers. This is the second straight year NBA Opening Night has faced the World Series; from 2002-13, it took place either after the series ended or on an off day.
Keeping that caveat in mind, Cavaliers/Bulls ranks as the lowest rated and least-watched Opening Night game involving LeBron James in seven years — since Cavaliers/Celtics in 2008 (1.7, 2.6M).
It also trailed last year’s opening week Cavaliers/Bulls game, which aired on ESPN on a Friday night (2.4, 3.9M). That was one of just three games on cable last season to have an equal or better performance, along with Knicks/Cavaliers on TNT October 30 (2.6, 4.0M) and Lakers/Bulls on TNT Christmas Day (2.1, 4.0M).
In Tuesday’s nightcap, Pelicans/Warriors drew a 1.5 and 2.5 million — down a tick in ratings but up 4% in viewership from Rockets/Lakers last year (1.6, 2.4M) and down 38% and 31%, respectively, from Clippers/Lakers in 2013 (2.4, 3.6M). The Warriors’ blowout win is tied as the lowest rated NBA Opening Night game since Blazers/Spurs in 2007 (1.4) — matching last year’s aforementioned Mavericks/Spurs game.
Ratings/Viewership For NBA Opening Night Games
Dating Back to 2008
Asterisk (*) indicates game faced World Series
| Year | Early | Late | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game | Rtg. | Vwrs. | Game | Rtg. | Vwrs. | |
| 2015* | Cavaliers Bulls |
2.1 | 3.46M | Pelicans Warriors |
1.5 | 2.53M |
| 2014* | Mavericks Spurs |
1.5 | 2.30M | Rockets Lakers |
1.6 | 2.42M |
| 2013 | Bulls Heat |
3.3 | 5.37M | Clippers Lakers |
2.4 | 3.57M |
| 2012 | Celtics Heat |
3.2 | 5.37M | Mavericks Lakers |
2.9 | 4.30M |
| 2011 | Canceled due to owner-imposed lockout | |||||
| 2010 | Heat Celtics |
4.6 | 7.35M | Rockets Lakers |
2.8 | 4.28M |
| 2009 | Celtics Cavaliers |
2.6 | 4.02M | Clippers Lakers |
2.1 | 3.36M |
| 2008 | Cavaliers Celtics |
1.7 | 2.61M | Blazers Lakers |
1.6 | 2.54M |
(Tue. numbers from Turner Sports; additional info from TV Media Insights)
