The NBA HORSE Challenge ended on a quiet note. Plus: numbers for last weekend’s encores and IndyCar iRacing.
NBA Horse Challenge finale sinks from debut
The conclusion of the NBA HORSE Challenge averaged a 0.22 rating and 372,000 viewers on ESPN Thursday night, well below the 0.37 and 686,000 the first night of the event averaged last Sunday. A previous NBA HORSE competition in 2010 averaged a 1.9 and 3.21 million on TNT, with the caveat that it took place during NBA All-Star Weekend.
In other NBA replacement programming, the final of the NBA 2K Players Tournament between Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton averaged 201,000 viewers on ESPN last Saturday night.
ISU GP leads weekend encores
Outside of Masters replays, a rebroadcast of last year’s ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating final led last weekend’s sportscasts, averaging 0.6 rating and 940,000 viewers on NBC last Sunday.
A rebroadcast of the 2008 Giants-Patriots Super Bowl 42 ranked second at a 0.54 and 830,000 on FOX, about even with the previous week’s rebroadcast of Super Bowl 45 in 2011 (0.55, 826K).
Elsewhere last weekend, ABC averaged a 0.48 and 695,000 for the Cavaliers-Warriors NBA Finals Game 7 in 2016 and a 0.46 and 636,000 for the Spurs-Heat NBA Finals Game 6 in 2013. NBC’s slate of Stanley Cup Final re-airs topped out at a 0.32 and 477,000 for Blackhawks-Flyers Game 6 in 2010.
IndyCar iRacing grows in second week on NBCSN
Coverage of IndyCar iRacing averaged 202,000 viewers on NBCSN last Saturday, up 25% from the previous week’s 162,000. The simulation outdrew each of the NBA 2K Players Tournament events on ESPN the same day.
