Though Friday’s much-hyped Heat/Knicks clash was one of the most viewed NBA regular season games on ESPN in its eight years televising the league, it was not even the net’s top NBA draw of the week.
The Heat’s 22-point win drew a 1.9 U.S. rating and 2.768 million viewers on ESPN Friday night, the network’s tenth-most viewed regular season NBA game since regaining rights in 2002.
Heat/Knicks drew slightly fewer viewers (but a higher rating) than Celtics/Knicks on ESPN two nights earlier (2.787 mil). Boston won that game by just two points.
As referenced above, Friday’s game ranks as the tenth-most viewed NBA regular season game on ESPN since the net reacquired the rights. Overall, six of the eleven most-viewed games on ESPN have taken place this season alone, and four of those six games have involved the Heat.
Later Friday night, the Mavericks’ win over the Suns drew a 1.3 U.S. rating and 2.022 million viewers.
Through 26 telecasts, ESPN is averaging a 1.5 U.S. rating and 2.209 million viewers for NBA coverage, up 36% in ratings and viewership from last year (1.1, 1.619 mil). That does not include games on ESPN2.
This marks the network’s highest average through this point of the season since regaining NBA rights in 2002. The previous high came during the 2003-04 season (1.641 mil).
Ratings/Viewership For NBA on ESPN During 2010-11 Season
| Date | Time | Game | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed., 10/27/10 | 8 PM | Bulls 95 | ESPN |
1.2
|
1,697
|
| Thunder 106 | |||||
| 10:30 PM | Blazers 98 | ESPN |
1.2
|
1,854
|
|
| Clippers 88 | |||||
| Fri., 10/29/10 | 8 PM | Magic 70 | ESPN |
2.3
|
3,774
|
| Heat 96 | |||||
| 10:30 PM | Lakers 114 | ESPN |
2.0
|
3,168
|
|
| Suns 106 | |||||
| Wed., 11/3/10 | 8 PM | Bucks 102 | ESPN |
1.7
|
2,451
|
| Celtics 105 | |||||
| 10:30 PM | Lakers 112 | ESPN |
1.6
|
2,329
|
|
| Kings 100 | |||||
| Fri., 11/5/10 | 8 PM | Bulls 105 | ESPN |
1.6
|
2,473
|
| Celtics 110 | |||||
| 10:30 PM | Clippers 104 | ESPN |
1.2
|
1,914
|
|
| Nuggets 111 | |||||
| Wed., 11/10/10 | 7 PM | Jazz 104 | ESPN |
1.1
|
1,589
|
| Magic 94 | |||||
| 9:30 PM | Clippers 95 | ESPN |
1.1
|
1,588
|
|
| Spurs 107 | |||||
| Fri., 11/12/10 | 7 PM | Jazz 90 | ESPN |
1.0
|
1,440
|
| Hawks 86 | |||||
| 9:30 PM | Trail Blazers 108 | ESPN |
1.2
|
1,669
|
|
| Thunder 110 | |||||
| Wed., 11/17/10 | 7 PM | Suns 96 | ESPN |
1.4
|
2,098
|
| Heat 123 | |||||
| 9:30 PM | Bulls 94 | ESPN |
1.4
|
1,914
|
|
| Spurs 103 | |||||
| Fri., 11/19/10 | 7 PM | Thunder 89 | ESPN |
1.4
|
2,121
|
| Celtics 84 | |||||
| 9:30 PM | Bulls 88 | ESPN |
1.2
|
1,771
|
|
| Mavericks 83 | |||||
| Wed., 11/24/10 | 7:30 PM | Heat 95 | ESPN |
2.0
|
2,985
|
| Magic 104 | |||||
| Fri., 11/26/10 | 7 PM | Rockets 89 | ESPN2 |
0.3
|
442
|
| Bobcats 99 | |||||
| 9:30 PM | Warriors 111 | ESPN2 |
0.4
|
530
|
|
| Grizzlies 116 | |||||
| Fri., 12/3/10 | 8 PM | Bulls 92 | ESPN |
1.6
|
2,389
|
| Celtics 104 | |||||
| 10:30 PM | Mavericks 93 | ESPN |
1.0
|
1,468
|
|
| Jazz 81 | |||||
| Wed., 12/8/10 | 7 PM | Nuggets 89 | ESPN |
1.3
|
1,899
|
| Celtics 105 | |||||
| Fri., 12/10/10 | 8 PM | Lakers 84 | ESPN |
1.6
|
2,480
|
| Bulls 88 | |||||
| 10:30 PM | Heat 106 | ESPN |
1.8
|
2,756
|
|
| Warriors 84 | |||||
| Wed., 12/15/10 | 7 PM | Celtics 118 | ESPN |
1.8
|
2,787
|
| Knicks 116 | |||||
| 9:30 PM | Trail Blazers 98 | ESPN |
1.2
|
1,809
|
|
| Mavericks 103 | |||||
| Fri., 12/17/10 | 7 PM | Heat 113 | ESPN |
1.9
|
2,768
|
| Knicks 91 | |||||
| 9:30 PM | Suns 91 | ESPN |
1.3
|
2,022
|
|
| Mavericks 106 |
