The Warriors helped ESPN to a big increase in viewership last Friday. In other news, NBC posted declines for a pair of NHL games last week, and a Mexico World Cup qualifier delivered strong numbers on Telemundo.
Warriors Moving Needle
- Warriors/Celtics had a 1.2 final rating and 2.0 million viewers on ESPN’s NBA Friday last week, up 31% in ratings and 41% in viewership from Spurs/Pelicans last year (0.95, 1.4M) and up 3% and 5%, respectively, from Cavaliers/Wizards in 2014 (1.2, 1.9M). All six Warriors games on ESPN or TNT have posted gains in viewership. In the nightcap, Clippers/Kings had a 0.8 and 1.3 million — down 56% in ratings and 55% in viewership from Bulls/Warriors last year (1.8, 2.9M) and down 20% and 11%, respectively, from Bulls/Blazers in 2014 (1.0, 1.4M). (via Programming Insider 11/21)
NHL Down on NBCSN Last Week
- Penguins/Capitals scored a 0.3 final rating and 463,000 viewers on the latest edition of NBCSN’s Wednesday Night Rivalry, down 7% in viewership from Canadiens/Penguins last year, ratings for which were unavailable (496K) and up a tick and 53%, respectively, from Bruins/Maple Leafs in 2014 (0.2, 303K). The previous night, Lightning/Red Wings had 193,000 — down 16% from Sabres/Lightning last year (230K) and down 18% from Sabres/Blues in ’14 (236K). (via Programming Insider 11/17, ShowBuzz Daily 11/17)
Mexico World Cup Qualifier Tops Champions Classic
- Last Tuesday’s Mexico/Panama World Cup qualifier had 3.2 million viewers on Telemundo, easily the top sporting event of a night that included college basketball’s Champions Classic. Airing concurrently, the Costa Rica/United States qualifier had 251,000 on beIN Sport and 194,000 on NBC Universo. (Telemundo, Sports TV Ratings 11/16)
