Thursday, October 8, 2026
  • -
    days
  • -
    hours
  • -
    minutes
  • -
    seconds

ESPN’s NBA Postseason Viewership Sees 25% Spike Through Semifinals

  • Boston’s victory over Milwaukee in Game 7 was the most-watched NBA ECF game in 10 years.
  • Through the first two rounds, the NBA Playoffs on ESPN and ABC have seen a 25% increase from 2021.
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

The NBA continues to rake in big numbers across ESPN and ABC, highlighted by the 7.5 million average during the Celtics’ Game 7 Semifinals victory over the Bucks.

ESPN announced Tuesday that the game had peaked at 9.6 million viewers at 6 p.m. ET — the most-watched NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals game in 10 years — and the largest TV audience on Sunday.

The numbers continue to increase across the board:

  • This was the most-viewed postseason (3.7M) through the Conference Semifinals on ESPN, ABC, TNT, and NBA TV in eight years.
  • Through 25 games and two rounds, the NBA Playoffs on ESPN/ABC are averaging 4.6 million viewers — a 25% increase from 2021.
  • On all NBA television platforms, the 3.7 million viewers is a 14% increase from last year’s shortened season.

Plus, Sunday’s pregame edition of “NBA Countdown” averaged 1.6 million viewers, the most the show has garnered during the postseason.

The network announced in early May that the studio show “NBA Today” was up 33% in April compared to last year.

As the league continues negotiations for new media rights in 2025, their case for $75 billion is only getting stronger.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Oct 23, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Stephen A. Smith (Stephen Smith) on the ESPN NBA Countdown live set at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Stephen A. Smith Ditches the ‘Nopology’ in Lane Johnson Mea Culpa

Smith faced criticism for comments about Johnson retiring to focus on mental health.
Oct 4, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs for seventy-six yards against Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Taron Johnson (3) and safety Jeremy Chinn (11) during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium.

Combined Sports Assets Give Skydance Leverage With NFL

The company’s co-CEOs spent Day 1 meeting with employees and press.
Suzy Kolber at Front Office Sports

Suzy Kolber Talks ESPN Layoff, ‘Unconventional’ Path to Scripps

Kolber also addressed why she thinks ESPN’s “middle class” is disappearing.
Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; A detailed view of the College Football Playoff logo on the pylon during the game between the Miami Hurricanes and Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

ESPN’s Exclusive Window Closes Next Week As 24-Team CFP Looms

The College Football Playoff has until Dec. 1 to expand for 2027.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/8/26 – Rahm Rejects LIV, Trump’s Stormy Georgia-Alabama Visit, Super Bowl on Disney+

0:00

Featured Today

Oct 3, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer waits to run onto the field prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Who Is Alabama Football in Year 3 Under Kalen DeBoer?

The No. 6 Crimson Tide host No. 2 Georgia on Saturday.
Cubs behind the scenes
October 6, 2026

Hollywood and TikTok: Sports Media’s New ‘Blueprint’

Teams and leagues are pouring money into the quest for fans.
October 2, 2026

How the Baseball Cap Became a ‘Behemoth’

The hat has become essential for athletes, fans, and the sports-agnostic.
Morishita-Sato-homerun-celebration-at-Meiji-Jingu-Baseball-Staidum-2025
September 28, 2026

Japanese Baseball Is Fighting Back Against MLB Talent Drain

Nippon Professional Baseball is reimagining how to be a global juggernaut.
Aug 9, 2026; Bedminster, New Jersey, USA; President Donald Trump walks out of the clubhouse during the final round of the LIV Golf New York tournament at Trump National Bedminster.
September 25, 2026

Trump’s Year of Sports Gets Busier With CFB, Presidents Cup

The impact of Trump’s attendance varies across each sporting event.
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - AS Monaco v RC Strasbourg - Stade Louis II, Monaco, - April 19, 2025 TV pundit holds a DAZN microphone before the match

DAZN Grows Sports Footprint as It Acquires Local Rights

The streamer has quickly amassed a large collection of team rights.
Charles Barkley Shaquille O'Neal
First at FOS
October 7, 2026

Shaquille O’Neal on Charles Barkley Retiring: ‘I Don’t Believe That’

Barkley has walked back retirement plans before, most recently in 2024.
Kenny Albert Fox Sports
First at FOS
October 7, 2026

Kenny Albert’s Last-Minute NLDS Fill-In Came Mid-Colonoscopy Prep

Albert filled in for Joe Davis, who had lost his voice.
Sponsored

Beyond the Scorecard: How Dow Is Putting Purpose at the Center of Women’s Golf

Discover how Dow and the LPGA are building a partnership with lasting impact.
Sep 26, 2026; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; United States President Donald Trump is shown on the video board in attendance at Neyland Stadium before the game between Texas Longhorns and Tennessee Volunteers. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images
October 7, 2026

Trump Still Plans to Attend Georgia-Alabama Despite Tropical Storm

The tropical storm projects to progress to a hurricane by Friday.
Max Kellerman Ring Magazine
Exclusive
October 6, 2026

Max Kellerman, LeSean McCoy Not Returning to DAZN Boxing Show

DAZN announced Tuesday that Mario Lopez is joining the show.
Feb 24, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; A general view of the Portland Trail Blazers logo at half court before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images
October 6, 2026

Braiden Bell Seeks Blazers Reinstatement After Firing

Bell was fired over social media posts he made as a teenager.
Opinion
October 5, 2026

Tony Romo Had an Enormous Impact on NFL TV

The “Romo Effect” will be felt for years to come.