ESPN scored big increases in viewership for a Friday NBA doubleheader featuring last year’s finalists. In other news, NBC scored a solid gain for NHL action over the weekend, and the same network held steady for English Premier League action.
Warriors, Cavaliers, Fuel Big Increases on ESPN
- Friday’s Celtics/Warriors NBA regular season game scored 2.7 million viewers on ESPN, up 101% from Blazers/Lakers last year (1.3M) and up 54% from Thunder/Rockets in 2014 (1.7M). Not including games on NBA TV, viewership has now increased for 19 of the 20 Warriors games that can be compared to last year. Earlier, Cavaliers/Hawks had a 1.2 final rating (+33%) and 1.9 million viewers (+36%). (via Programming Insider)
NBC Sees Boost For Bruins/Blackhawks
- The Bruins/Blackhawks NHL regular season game drew a 1.1 overnight rating on NBC Sunday afternoon, up 22% from both Penguins/Flyers last year and Blues/Blackhawks in 2014 (0.9 both years). The 1.1 is tied as the highest of the season for an indoor game, not including the All-Star Game. (via ShowBuzz Daily)
Overnights Flat For Premier League on NBC
- NBC earned a 0.8 overnight rating for Saturday’s Liverpool/Tottenham English Premier League match, even with Burnley/Arsenal in the comparable week last year. The match trounced competing Bundesliga coverage on FOX (0.25). (via ShowBuzz Daily)
