After a modest increase for Opening Night, the two subsequent nights of the NBA season have seen sharp declines. Plus: the NHL continues to see sharp declines of its own; the F1 USGP and NASCAR Cup Series from Las Vegas both posted increases last weekend.
Wednesday’s NBA opening week doubleheader on ESPN averaged 1.6 million viewers, down 42% from last year — when coverage featured #1 pick Victor Wembanyama’s debut — but up 5% from 2022. Bucks-Sixers had a 1.0 rating and 1.71 million viewers, down a third from Celtics-Knicks last year (1.5, 2.55M), and the Suns-Clippers nightcap followed with 1.52 million (-49%). Keep in mind both games were absent some key players, including Sixers stars Joel Embiid and Paul George and the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard.
On Thursday, TNT drew a 0.7 and 1.45 million for Spurs-Mavericks — down 38% and 29% respectively from Sixers-Bucks a year ago (1.2, 2.04M). Figures for the Thunder-Nuggets nightcap were not immediately available.
Tuesday’s NHL “Frozen Frenzy” tripleheader averaged 383,000 on ESPN, with whiparound coverage at 83,000 on ESPN2 — down 11% and 58% respectively from last year (432K and 196K). Capitals-Flyers led off the ESPN tripleheader with 477,000, up from Maple Leafs-Capitals last year (475K), but the two subsequent games dragged down the average as Avalanche-Kraken drew 422,000 (-20%) and Kings-Golden Knights 245,000 (-12%).
In other NHL action, TNT drew a 339,000 for Flyers-Capitals on Wednesday night — down 25% from Capitals-Devils a year ago (452K).
Last Sunday’s Formula 1 United States Grand Prix averaged 1.30 million viewers on ABC, up from last year (1.17M) and the third-largest audience on record for the race, trailing 2022 (1.34M) and the record of 1.41 million in 2021. The full telecast window, including 90 minutes of pre-race coverage, averaged a 0.54 rating and 972,000 viewers.
In the competing window on NBC, NASCAR Cup Series racing from Las Vegas drew a 1.2 and 2.23 million — down a tick in ratings but up 6% in viewership from last year (1.3, 2.19M). Joey Logano’s win, which peaked with 2.9 million, trails only 2022 as the most-watched edition of the race in the past five years.
While NASCAR won the overall head-to-head, F1 won out among adults 18-49 (470K to 351K).
In other racing action, Xfinity Series racing from Las Vegas drew a 0.44 and 755,000 on CW Saturday night — down from last year’s 0.46 and 810,000 in an afternoon slot on USA.
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