An unusually high-profile matchup gave NBA TV a big boost Friday night. In other news, ESPN had a big drop for abbreviated college basketball action, and NBC posted a slight increase for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.
Cavaliers/Knicks Boosts NBA TV
- Friday’s Cavaliers/Knicks NBA regular season game scored a 0.4 final rating and 532,000 viewers on NBA TV, up 100% in ratings and 171% in viewership from Nuggets/Pacers last year (0.2, 196K), and easily the network’s most-watched game of the season thus far (12 telecasts). The Nets/Kings nightcap had a 0.3 and 398,000. (via TV Media Insights)
Viewership Drops For ESPN’s Abbreviated CBB Opener
- ESPN drew 606,000 viewers for the abbreviated Pittsburgh/Gonzaga college basketball game, down 40% from Louisville/Minnesota last year (1.0M) and down 11% from Georgetown/Oregon in 2013 (679K). The game was halted after halftime due to unsafe playing conditions. Texas/Washington drew a 0.3 final rating and 463,000 later in the night; there were no comparable windows last year or in 2013, when ESPN aired NBA coverage. (via Sports TV Ratings/TVMI)
ISU Grand Prix Has Uptick on NBC
- Tape delayed coverage of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Trophée Éric Bompard earned a 0.9 overnight rating on NBC Sunday afternoon, up a tick from last year (0.8) and down 25% from 2013 (1.2). The past three ISU GP telecasts have posted a year-over-year increase. (via Sports Business Daily)
