• Loading stock data...
Thursday, November 21, 2024

Brittney Griner’s Return is Cable’s Most-Viewed WNBA Game In 24 Years

  • ESPN’s broadcast of Friday’s Phoenix Mercury-Los Angeles Sparks game drew 1 million peak viewers.
  • Average viewership was up 103% over last year’s WNBA opening night broadcast on ESPN platforms.
ESPN's broadcast was the WNBA's most-viewed regular season game on cable in 24 years.
Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN’s broadcast of Brittney Griner’s return to the WNBA last Friday was the most-viewed WNBA regular season game on cable television in 24 years and the most-viewed WNBA opening night game on ESPN platforms in 11 years. 

Friday’s broadcast peaked at 1 million viewers and had 683,000 average viewers as Griner’s Phoenix Mercury lost to the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The game’s average viewership was up 103% compared to last year’s WNBA opening night broadcast on ESPN platforms. 

Ratings for the WNBA have been up, as last year’s regular season on ESPN platforms was the league’s most-watched since 2006. April’s WNBA Draft on ESPN drew 520,000 viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA Draft since 2004. 

The WNBA’s broadcast deal with Disney-owned ESPN and ABC runs through the 2025 season. Friday night WNBA games are also airing this season on the Ion Television network through the WNBA’s new deal with the E.W. Scripps Company. 

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert also believes appetite for watching the WNBA is benefiting from popularity at the college level after April’s LSU-Iowa NCAA Championship game on ABC scored 9.9 million viewers as the most-watched women’s college basketball game ever. 

“I think we’re seeing our product being valued, coming off that strong viewership at the college level with that game on ABC,” Engelbert told Front Office Sports in an interview. “We’re different because we have a more lifestyle viewer, so when we’re on ABC, we do really well because of the nature of our fan base.”

Earlier this month, the Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix Suns had their new attempted media deal to regionally broadcast games over the air blocked by a bankruptcy judge, saying the agreement violated Phoenix’s deal with Diamond Sports Group’s Bally Sports Arizona. 

“The whole media landscape is being very disrupted, and I’m watching that very carefully as we think about our next media rights deal,” Engelbert said. “I’m excited, quite frankly, to take a look at this and the way our media rights are valued.”

Amazon is also in the third year of its deal signed in 2021 to stream 16 WNBA games per year and the Commissioner’s Cup on Prime Video. 

“We’re just going to continue to evaluate what’s going on with streamers, Amazon, as well as other streamers entering the live sports marketplace,” Engelbert said. “Now that people understand that Prime Video has live sports, we’re really gonna hit the ground running with marketing on both sides to get that viewership up on streaming and our linear partners as well.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Comcast’s SpinCo: New Home for USA Network, Golf Channel, Sports Rights

The move by NBC Sports’ parent company reflects how dramatically the linear television business has changed.
opinion

Charles Barkley Addition Reinforces ESPN’s Focus: Star Power

ESPN’s wheeling and dealing has built its strongest talent lineup in years. 
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Who Can Actually Afford Juan Soto?

0:00

Featured Today

Nov 18, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Williams Racing driver Logan Sargeant of the United States (2) during the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit.

F1 Grand Prix Upended Vegas Last Year. Stakes Are High for Its..

Stakes are high as F1 gears up for a successful second act.
Classic Football Shirts New York Pop-Up
November 18, 2024

Vintage Soccer Jerseys Have Found a Sweet Spot in the Lucrative U.S...

The money-making shirts are at the prime intersection of memorabilia and fashion.
Nov 13, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) reacts after fouling Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (not pictured) during the second half at Madison Square Garden.
opinion
November 16, 2024

NBA Ratings Rorschach Test: Buy the Dip

Was it the election? Too many threes? Lack of storylines?
November 15, 2024

Executive Decision: When Richard Nixon Named a College Football Champion

In 1969, the 37th president unilaterally named the winner of the season.
Nov 19, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers play during the second half at TD Garden.

Cavs vs. Celtics Draws Big TV Numbers in NBA Cup Showdown

The game averaged 1.94 million viewers and peaked at 2.7 million.
November 19, 2024

Bills’ Dethroning of Chiefs Draws Highest TV Ratings of NFL Season

The massive rating continues Kansas City’s dominance as the NFL’s No. 1 TV team.
Nov 18, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) looks on against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center.
November 19, 2024

Will NBA Flex Last-Place Sixers From National TV Games?

Philadelphia is 2–11, tied for last in the NBA.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
November 19, 2024

Netflix Stock Rises Again As Tyson-Paul Fight Sets Streaming Record

The streamer says it generated 108 million global viewers for the bout.
November 18, 2024

NFL Backs Netflix for Christmas Day Doubleheader Despite Recent Issues

The league checks in on the company’s ability to deliver its doubleheader.
Nov 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, UNITED STATES; Mike Tyson (black gloves) fights Jake Paul (silver gloves) at AT&T Stadium.
November 18, 2024

Netflix Exec Calls Tyson-Paul Stream ‘Huge Success’ Despite ‘Technical Challenges’

Netflix had streaming issues last year during the season finale of “Love Is Blind.”
November 17, 2024

Why Netflix Won Big Despite Tyson-Paul Streaming Issues

60 million households worldwide watched the match.