The Houston Rockets continue to have a negative impact on ABC’s ratings.
Thunder/Rockets on ABC’s NBA Sunday Showcase earned a 1.7 overnight rating Sunday afternoon, down 50% from Bulls/Cavaliers last year (3.4) and down 29% from Lakers/Clippers in 2014 (2.4). Compared to the teams’ meeting on the same weekend last year, which aired in an earlier timeslot, overnights dropped 32% from a 2.5.
The 1.7 overnight is the fourth-lowest for an NBA game on ABC in the past five years. The Rockets have played in three of those four, with their game against the Bulls last month and another against the Wizards last year tied for the bottom spot (1.4).
Head-to-head, the Rockets’ win ranked well behind final round coverage of the PGA’s Houston Open on NBC (2.6). The PGA has now tied or topped the NBA Sunday Showcase in five of six head-to-head meetings this year. Sunday’s game also trailed NASCAR on Fox Sports 1, which had a 2.2.
(Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily)
