Viewership is down for the NBA, ESPN sports related programming, and NFL Hard Knocks

[NOSaintsFan02]

NBA ratings continue to be inexplicably low this month, with all of the Twitter chatter surrounding the league’s return not translating into an actual increase in viewers.

When the NBA resumed its season at the end of July, many observers assumed it would be a ratings boon for all involved. Networks were starved for sports programming as a result of COVID-19, and basketball’s glut of big name stars should have converted into a ton of viewership.

Only it didn’t.

NBA Ratings Got Off to A Rough Start
In the first week of action, the NBA’s ratings immediately sputtered. Rather than spiking due to an increase in hype and intrigue around the return of basketball, the numbers dipped to 14 percent below pre-COVID averages.

Last week, the games that took place from Thursday to Sunday drew smaller ratings than the same period the prior week.

As usual, the Los Angeles Lakers continued to do solid numbers. LeBron James and Co. delivered the most-watched game of the week when they defeated the Utah Jazz 116-108. The second-most watched outing of the week also featured the Lakers – this time a 113-97 defeat at the hands of the Houston Rockets.

Beyond that, though – the numbers were completely unimpressive.

A showdown between the New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs with postseason implications that aired on ABC did 1.158 million viewers. That was down from the 1.663 million that the Boston Celtics drew in their 128-124 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

For comparison’s sake, the PGA Championship which aired that same Sunday drew 5.153 million viewers.

The NBA games themselves are not the only ones losing viewers, though.

Other NBA Programming Is Struggling As Well
ESPN was counting on the return of the NBA providing a ratings boost to its other programming. Thus far, it has not happened.

Pardon The Interruption, the network’s best-performing daily show, did 337,000 viewers last week. One year earlier, with no NBA games to discuss, it averaged 569,000 viewers.

The drop in interest is startling, and reflected in the declining ratings of The Jump, First Take and Around The Horn as well.

NBA Ratings Continue To Be Inexplicably Low - Game 7

"It’s early, but this start is concerning," Burack wrote. "Remember, the NBA is the most discussed league on many of these shows. Particularly First Take, which, Thursday, spent its entire two hours on the league’s return. The NBA put its stars out front for next-day conversation. LeBron James vs. Kawhi Leonard, Lakers vs. Clippers, Zion Williamson. None of it mattered."

Twenty-two teams are resuming the season in Orlando, with many of the games being carried by national network partners ESPN/ABC and TNT.

While shows that talk about the NBA may be hurting, the games themselves are generating a decent audience, all things considered.

Through Aug. 9, seeding games on ESPN were averaging 1.39 million viewers, which was 34 percent larger than the numbers being produced by Major League Baseball games on ESPN (1.03 million).

Also, the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets on Aug. 6 averaged 1.6 million viewers on TNT -- larger than the MLB games on FOX and the PGA Championship on ESPN.


Television ratings for NBA games actually were suffering prior to the hiatus in March, according to a February report from Sports Business Daily.

But it appears the return of the league is drawing a fair share of interest despite the time of year, as TV viewership is typically down across the board in August. Also, because of circumstances, the NBA has had to schedule many of its seeding games in the early afternoon.

Ratings surrounding NBA-related programming continue to nosedive

Monday Night Raw is getting more viewers than NBA and MLB


NFL Hard Knocks took a nosedive

 

[NOSaintsFan02]

Ratings aren't the be all end all but I'm legit surprised because we all assumed ratings would be through the roof due to the pandemic. I imagine the NBA's will go up with the playoffs starting.

Of course Trumpsters will blame it on the kneeling, but do yall think the pandemic has people just not caring about sports anymore and will it have an everlasting effect on sports viewership in general or should the leagues just chalk this to an outlier given how crazy this year is.

 

[360Waves]

Media is consumed differently these days. I’m not even sure “TV” will really be a thing In like 10 years.

NBA ratings will pick up for the playoffs though. With all the crazy shyt happening in the world right now a lot of people don’t have time to sit and watch seeding games thatre largely meaningless except for a select few.

 

[SchoolboyC]

Honestly I had no idea they were even doing Hard Knocks this year until I saw a thread on here yesterday

 

[aceboon]

Can only speak for myself but after so many months without watching sports as part of my daily schedule I have kinda learned to live without it.

 

[Da King]

People still watching play fighting in 2020?

 

[Saysumthinfunnymike]

It's the middle of Summer (which NBA doesn't play for a reason) and everyone was stuck in the house for most of it. Personally I can't travel much due to covid/travel restrictions but on the weekend or a nice evening I'm not gonna watch sports programming all night, even if it's a small little get together i'm doin that

I'll be all in once the playoffs get going

 

[ROBEEZYKILLA]

People still watching play fighting in 2020?

More then lebron yes

 

[3rdLetter]

Ratings aren't the be all end all but I'm legit surprised because we all assumed ratings would be through the roof due to the pandemic. I imagine the NBA's will go up with the playoffs starting.

Of course Trumpsters will blame it on the kneeling, but do yall think the pandemic has people just not caring about sports anymore and will it have an everlasting effect on sports viewership in general or should the leagues just chalk this to an outlier given how crazy this year is.

Real talk, some people had probably gotten used to not having sports on during the lockdown. Even though the may be happy that sports is back, they probably aren't forcing themselves to watch as much of it as possible.

 

[Saysumthinfunnymike]

Honestly I had no idea they were even doing Hard Knocks this year until I saw a thread on here yesterday

HBO MAX.. you can watch whenever, why watch it at a select time on regular HBO. It ain't like it's The Wire and u gotta see it that night

 

[Swagnificent]

The ratings are low because the product is bad. NBA basketball has been trash the last couple of years. People naturally don't want to watch a bad product. Also the bubble doesn't help. It looks like summer league basketball instead of the NBA.

Yall got your hopes high thinking the pandemic would change people's attitudes on the current state of the NBA.

 

[NkrumahWasRight Is Wrong]

Ratings aren't the be all end all but I'm legit surprised because we all assumed ratings would be through the roof due to the pandemic. I imagine the NBA's will go up with the playoffs starting.

Of course Trumpsters will blame it on the kneeling, but do yall think the pandemic has people just not caring about sports anymore and will it have an everlasting effect on sports viewership in general or should the leagues just chalk this to an outlier given how crazy this year is.

the kneeling has played a role but i doubt its enough to sway ratings that much. people probably became accustomed to being without it..and also have the kids around more so may be ceding the remote to them idk

 

[Pimp]

when the playoffs start let's revisit this thread.

 

[Ironman]

It's 1:50 in the gotdamn afternoon and the Lakers are currently playing. I won't be home for a good 6 hours

 

[NkrumahWasRight Is Wrong]

The ratings are low because the product is bad. NBA basketball has been trash the last couple of years. People naturally don't want to watch a bad product. Also the bubble doesn't help. It looks like summer league basketball instead of the NBA.

Yall got your hopes high thinking the pandemic would change people's attitudes on the current state of the NBA.

bubble ball product has been better than pre covid in my opinion