The NBA got a reprieve from its ratings slump this week. Also: viewership increased for the Australian Open finals; out-of-home viewing game the College Football Playoff a bump; plus miscellaneous numbers for a slew of recent events.
Healthier week for NBA
Rockets-Lakers averaged a 1.4 rating and 2.26 million viewers on the NBA on TNT Thursday night, down a tick in ratings and 2% in viewership from last year (Sixers-Warriors: 1.5, 2.30M), but up 59% and 68% respectively from 2018 (Thunder-Nuggets: 0.9, 1.34M).
Despite the dip, Houston’s win was the highest rated and most-watched NBA game on TNT since Lakers-Bucks in December (1.7, 2.78M).
Earlier in the night, Sixers-Bucks averaged a 1.1 and 1.69 million — up 13% in ratings and 15% in viewership from last year (Bucks-Raptors: 1.0, 1.47M) and up 13% and 17% respectively from 2018 (Rockets-Spurs: 0.95, 1.44M).
In other action, Spurs-Lakers averaged a 0.9 (-10%) and 1.40 million (-10%) and Bucks-Pelicans a 0.8 (+14%) and 1.25 million (+12%) on TNT Tuesday. On ESPN Wednesday, Heat-Clippers averaged a 0.8 (+18%) and 1.17 million (+16%) and Magic-Celtics a 0.6 (flat) and 997,000 (+10%).
Aussie Open finals up
Last Saturday’s Sofia Kenin-Garbine Muguruza Australian Open women’s final averaged 639,000 viewers on ESPN, up 27% from last year (531K) and up 42% from 2018 (450K). Beyond the presence of an American player, the match likely benefited from elevated viewing levels on ESPN, which aired its most-watched regular season NBA game in 17 years hours before the match.
On Sunday, the Novak Djokovic-Dominic Thiem men’s final averaged 571,000 (+3%). The full tournament averaged 365,000 (+4%). Neither final was the most-watched telecast of the event, with round of 16 action on January 25 taking top honors (725K, +24%).
Out-of-home viewing boosts LSU-Clemson to over 27 million viewers
Last month’s LSU-Clemson College Football Playoff National Championship averaged an additional 1.7 million viewers in Nielsen’s out-of-home estimates, bringing the total average up to 27.31 million — up 1% from last year (26.98M). The 1% increase is unchanged from the initial tally.
The Clemson-Ohio State Fiesta Bowl added 1.96 million viewers in OOH, bringing the total average up to 23.48 million. The LSU-Oklahoma Peach Bowl added 1.79 million OOH viewers, bringing that audience up to 19.27 million.
Nielsen will reportedly begin including out-of-home viewing in its final nationals later this year.
Miscellaneous: “The Jump,” All-Star draft, NHL, Vick, CBB
ESPN’s The Jump NBA trade deadline special averaged 389,000 viewers Thursday, down 20% from last year (486K) and down 35% from 2018 (603K). … Thursday’s TNT NBA pregame, which featured the NBA All-Star draft, averaged 751,000 (-18%). … NBCSN averaged a 0.30 rating (+11%) and 467,000 viewers (+9%) for Bruins-Blackhawks on NHL Wednesday Night Rivalry, 282,000 viewers for Blackhawks-Wild Tuesday, and 233,000 for Flyers-Red Wings Monday. … Part two of the ESPN 30 For 30 documentary “Vick” averaged a 0.45 and 681,000 Thursday, down 24% and 28% respectively from part one. … Tuesday’s Duke-Boston College men’s college basketball game averaged a 0.52 and 792,000 on ESPN, down 27% and 23% respectively from the same matchup last year (0.7, 1.02M). The Mississippi State-Kentucky nightcap had a 0.56 (+4%) and 900,000 (+7%).
[Nielsen estimates from Programming Insider 2.6, 2.7 a, b; ESPN; ESPN PR 2.5 a, b; ShowBuzz Daily 2.4, 2.5]
