NBA Draft Lottery ratings sank in the first year of the show’s expanded format. In other news, Lightning-Capitals Game 3 increased double-digits on NBCSN, IndyCar hit a six-year low on ABC, and the F1 Spanish Grand Prix slipped on ESPN2.
NBA Draft Lottery Ratings Sink in Expanded Format
The NBA Draft Lottery earned a 1.6 rating and 2.4 million viewers on ESPN Tuesday night, down 24% in ratings and 25% in viewership from last year (2.1, 3.2M) and down 11% and 12% respectively from 2016 (1.8, 2.7M). It was the least-watched Draft Lottery in a decade (2008: 2.3M) with the caveat that the show had not previously lasted a full hour.
Lightning-Caps Game 3 Up Double-Digits
Tuesday’s Lightning-Capitals NHL Eastern Conference Final Game 3 drew a 0.9 rating and 1.5 million viewers on NBCSN, up 26% in ratings and 18% in viewership from Penguins-Senators last year (0.7, 1.2M) but down 16% and 17% respectively from Penguins-Lightning in 2016 (1.05, 1.8M).
After Game 1 opened at a six-year low, the subsequent two Lightning-Capitals games have posted an increase over last year’s East Final.
IndyCar Posts Smallest ABC Audience Since 2012
Last Saturday’s IndyCar Series Grand Prix of Indianapolis had a 0.6 rating and 780,000 viewers on ABC, down a tick in ratings and 19% in viewership from last year (0.7, 969K) and down a tick and 14% respectively from 2016 (905K). It was the lowest rated and least-watched edition of the race (began in 2014) and the least-watched IndyCar telecast on ABC since 2012 (Mid-Ohio: 626K).
F1 Spanish GP Down From Last Year
ESPN2 scored a 0.32 rating and 499,000 viewers for last Sunday’s Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, down 9% in ratings and 10% in viewership from last year (0.35, 557K). Compared to 2016, ratings fell 3% (from 0.33) but viewership increased 2% (from 487K). Prior to this year, the race aired on NBCSN.
[Numbers from Programming Insider 5.16, ShowBuzz Daily 5.15, ESPN]
