Through December, NBA ratings on TNT, ESPN and ABC were flat compared to last year.
53 NBA telecasts across TNT, ESPN and ABC averaged a 1.2 U.S. rating and approximately 1.9 million viewers through December, flat in ratings and viewership compared to last year.
ABC averaged a 3.8 rating and 7.1 million viewers for its Christmas Day doubleheader, down 12% and 11%, respectively, from a 4.3 and 7.9 million for the comparable two games last year. The decline can be attributed to the Cavaliers/Lakers Christmas Day game, which drew a 4.4 rating and 8.3 million viewers — down 17% in ratings and viewership from Celtics/Lakers the previous year.
On ESPN, 31 NBA games have averaged a 1.1 U.S. rating and 1.7 million viewers, off a tick in ratings and flat in viewership compared to a 1.2 and 1.7 million last year.
TNT is the only NBA broadcaster to have increases in ratings and viewership compared to last year. Like ESPN, the network is averaging a 1.1 U.S. rating and 1.7 million viewers for NBA coverage — up a tick in ratings and 11% in viewership from last year (1.0, 1.6 mil).
(ESPN, Turner Sports)
