NBA ratings mostly declined over the past week. In other news: NHL ratings have also taken a hit of late, and the PGA Tour Tournament of Champions hit a four-year low.
NBA Mostly Down Over Past Week
Bucks-Rockets scored a 1.1 rating and 1.73 million viewers on ESPN’s NBA Wednesday this week, flat in ratings and up 4% in viewership from last year (Thunder-T’Wolves: 1.1, 1.67M) and up 22% and 29% respectively from 2016 (Grizzlies-Thunder: 0.9, 1.34M). The Bucks’ win was the most-watched NBA game of the past week.
Later in the night, Pistons-Lakers had a 1.0 (-17%) and 1.46 million (-15%). Lakers F LeBron James did not play due to injury.
On TNT Thursday night, Thunder-Spurs scored a 1.0 (flat) and 1.45 million (-8%) and Celtics-Heat a 0.8 (-33%) and 1.17 million (-35%).
Going back to last Friday, ESPN drew a 0.9 and 1.34 million (-16%) for T’Wolves-Celtics and a 0.9 and 1.39 million (+7%) for Thunder-Blazers.
Recent NHL Also Down
Predators-Blackhawks had a 0.23 rating and 379,000 viewers on the latest edition of NBCSN’s NHL Wednesday Night Rivalry, down 22% in viewership from last year (Wild-Blackhawks: 486K) and down 37% from 2017 (Penguins-Capitals: 598K).
It was not the top NHL game of the past week. Blackhawks-Penguins had a 0.28 and 474,000 on Sunday night, down 10% in ratings and 11% in viewership from last year (Bruins-Penguins: 0.31, 533K).
In other action, Jets-Wild had 245,000 on Thursday and Flyers-Capitals 192,000 on Tuesday.
PGA Tournament of Champions Down
Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Tournament of Champions earned a 0.33 rating and 508,000 viewers on Golf Channel last Sunday — down 21% in ratings and 19% in viewership from last year (0.42, 624K) and down 15% and 16% respectively from 2016 (0.39, 608K). It was the least-watched final round of the event in four years (2015: 409K).
Third round action last Saturday pulled a 0.8 and 1.13 million on NBC. There was no comparable NBC window last year.
[Numbers from Programming Insider 1.10, 1.11; ShowBuzz Daily 1.8]
