Numbers: Local NBA Finals Ratings, MLB, Racing

NBA Finals ratings sank in the Bay Area and Cleveland. In other news, ESPN scored a big increase for Nationals-Yankees on Wednesday night and F1 and IndyCar both posted steep declines last weekend.

NBA Finals Ratings Down in Bay Area, Cleveland

The NBA Finals averaged 32.5 rating in the Bay Area, down 2% from last year (33.3), down 5% from 2016 (34.1) and the lowest of the four consecutive Warriors-Cavaliers series. This year’s finals was the shortest of the four.

The series averaged a 32.3 rating in Cleveland, down 7% from last year (34.7) and down 17% from 2016 (38.8). As in the Bay Area, it was the lowest rated of the four Golden State-Cleveland series.

Columbus, Ohio, ranked third among all markets with an 18.1 average (-9%). Nationally, NBA Finals ratings fell 12% to a four-year low. [Crain’s Cleveland 6.13]

Nats-Yanks Up Big on ESPN

Nationals-Yankees scored a 0.6 rating and 819,000 on ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball last night, up 40% in ratings and 44% in viewership from Angels-Yankees last year, which aired in a later timeslot (0.40, 567K). Versus a similar timeslot in 2016, viewership increased 96% from Orioles-Red Sox (417K).

On Tuesday, ESPN drew a 0.37 and 553,000 for Mets-Braves; there was no comparable window last year. [Programming Insider 6.13, 6.14]

F1, IndyCar, Down Big Last Weekend

Last Sunday’s Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix earned a 0.6 rating and 969,000 viewers on ABC, down 25% in ratings and 19% in viewership from last year on NBC (0.8, 1.2M). The 0.6 rating is the lowest for the race since it returned to the schedule in 2010.

In other action, Saturday’s IndyCar race from Texas earned a 0.21 (-40%) and 336,000 on NBCSN (-40%) — the smallest audience for the race since at least 2011.

Finally, NHRA eliminations from Richmond (Va.) had a 0.24 and 374,000 on FS1 Sunday. It was the first edition of the race since 2009. [ShowBuzz Daily 6.12]