Ratings are starting to return to normal in the NBA, but the slow bleed of declining numbers still appears evident. Sports Media Watch reported that the league’s average postseason viewership heading into the 2021 NBA Finals was 3.7 million viewers across ESPN/ABC and TNT.
That figure is a 35% jump from last year’s bubble playoffs but still on a downward trend compared to 2019. This year’s ratings were down 10% compared to the same metrics in 2019, the last time the NBA Finals ended on time.
Somewhat shocking is the fact that last year was so bad that this year’s average viewership is already higher than 2020, without having played any 2021 Finals games yet.
Sports Media Watch confirmed the larger trend of sports in general making a bounce back as we rise out of the pandemic. Football season destroyed The Masters and the U.S. Open last year. Final rounds at this year’s tournaments were up 77% and 69% respectively compared to the ones played during football season.
The same with horse racing’s triple crown races, which doubled for all three races and tripled for The Preakness. On the ice, the news wasn’t as rosy, with the NHL up 8% from last year and down 22% from their 2019 ratings. Metrics commissioner Bettman is hoping to see reversed at their new homes in Turner and ESPN.
Zooming in further and looking at the NBA compared to the rest of television and it’s great news for the league. Cord-cutting is no secret and with it brings declining ratings across the medium, but basketball is still dominating a smaller audience.
TNT and ESPN were the most-watched networks on 37-of-38 playoff nights this postseason. The league’s share of television was also its highest since the 2002-03 season. For more on the general NBA postseason ratings check out the article here.