A pair of 29-point blowouts went in opposite directions on the NBA’s opening night.
Tuesday’s Spurs/Warriors NBA Opening Night game had a 2.1 final rating and 3.5 million viewers on TNT, up 40% in ratings and 38% in viewership from Pelicans/Warriors last year (1.5, 2.5M) and up 31% and 44%, respectively, from Rockets/Lakers in 2014 (1.6, 2.4M).
The Spurs’ blowout win, which peaked with 4.1 million viewers from 12-12:15 AM ET, ranks as the most-watched Opening Night game since 2013 — when Heat/Bulls had 5.4 million and Clippers/Lakers 3.6 million. That was the last year Opening Night did not face the World Series.
Earlier in the night, Knicks/Cavaliers earned a 1.7 and 2.9 million — down 19% in ratings and 17% in viewership from Cavaliers/Bulls last year (2.1, 3.5M) but up 13% and 25%, respectively, from Mavericks/Spurs in 2014 (1.5, 2.3M). The start was moved up a half-hour to reduce conflict with the Indians’ World Series opener.
The Cavaliers’ rout, which peaked at 3.0 million from 9:30-9:45 PM, was overshadowed both nationally and locally by the World Series. On a national level, Cubs/Indians was a tougher draw than last year’s comparable Mets/Royals matchup, posting gains of 26% in ratings and 30% in viewership. Locally, as noted in an earlier post, it throttled the Cavaliers game by 422% (47.5 to 9.1).
In adults 18-49, Knicks/Cavaliers had a 1.3 rating (-13%) and Spurs/Warriors a 1.6 (+23%).
(Tue. numbers from Turner Sports, with additional info from ShowBuzz Daily 10/26)
