NBA viewership has taken a noticeable hit this season across major broadcasts, reflecting a significant drop in audience numbers compared to last year:
- ESPN’s Season-Opening Doubleheader: This season’s doubleheader averaged 1.6 million viewers, marking a steep 42% decline from 2023’s season opener, which featured high interest in rookie Victor Wembanyama.
- Bucks vs. 76ers: This matchup drew 1.71 million viewers, a notable decrease from the 2.55 million viewers who tuned in for last year’s season opener between the Celtics and Knicks.
- Suns vs. Clippers: With an audience of 1.52 million, this game saw a 49% drop compared to the same time slot last year, reflecting a considerable decline in engagement.
- TNT’s Thursday Game (Spurs vs. Mavericks): Featuring another Wembanyama game, the broadcast reached 1.45 million viewers – a 29% dip from last year’s comparable game in this slot.
- ESPN’s Friday Game (Pacers vs. Knicks): Drawing only 830,000 viewers, this NBA game fell behind a college football broadcast on ESPN2, underscoring the league’s struggle to compete with other sports programming.
These figures indicate a trend where, even with high-profile matchups, NBA broadcasts are struggling to capture the same viewership levels as in previous seasons.
Viewership in the NBA has been declining, per @awfulannouncing:
• ESPN’s Opening Doubleheader:
•Averaged 1.6 million viewers, down 42% from 2023’s debut with Victor Wembanyama.• Bucks vs. 76ers: 1.71 million viewers (down from 2.55 million for Celtics vs. Knicks in 2023).… pic.twitter.com/qAIJCCaXrp
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 30, 2024
