• Loading stock data...
Monday, June 23, 2025

NBA Delivers Most-Watched Opening Night In Five Years

  • TNT’s Opening Night doubleheader averages 3.3M viewers.
  • That’s up 17% from last season.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA’s new 2022-23 season is off to a strong TV start, with the league posting its most-watched Opening Night in five years.

Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT averaged 3.3 million viewers for its Opening Night doubleheader featuring the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics and the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. That’s up 17% from Opening Night last season.

Meanwhile, the NBA’s social media platforms and new global app generated 148 million views — the most-ever for Opening Night, and a 200% increase from 2021.

It was an impressive start for the Association as its Opening Night debut had to compete TV-wise with Major League Baseball postseason coverage.

The numbers were driven primarily by the strong audience for the 76ers vs. Celtics early-game window on Opening Night.

  • That TNT telecast averaged 2.98 million viewers, up 36% from last year, according to Sports Media Watch
  • 76ers vs. Celtics was also the most-watched Opening Night early game since Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers averaged 5.6 million viewers in 2017.
  • Lakers-Warriors was the most-viewed program on TV last night among key demographics. 
  • Video views on NBA app were up 533%. With 71.7 million followers, the NBA’s Instagram account generated the most video views of any account on the social media platform.

In NBA First, Clippers Launch Direct-to-Consumer Streaming Option

Steve Ballmer will offer Clipper fans a direct-to-consumer streaming option.
October 17, 2022

The NBA’s other national TV partner, Disney’s ABC/ESPN, is scheduled to tip off its regular-season coverage Wednesday night, with a doubleheader featuring the New York Knicks at Memphis Grizzlies (7:30 p.m. ET) and the Dallas Mavericks at Phoenix Suns (10 p.m. ET).

On Wednesday, ESPN also announced a new studio show, “NBA Crosscourt,” for its ESPN+ streaming platform

The new studio show will stream twice-weekly for subscribers.

ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth and Rosalyn Gold-Onwude will host, along with contributors Israel Gutierrez, Brian Windhorst, and Ohm Youngmisuk.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NBA Finals Game 7 Is Most-Watched Since 2019, but Series Drops 9%

Game 7 drew 16.35 million viewers, the most-watched NBA game since 2019.

NBA Conference Gap Wider Than Ever Amid Injuries to East’s Best

A team from the West has won the NBA title 17 times since 2000.
opinion

A 7-Step Playbook for Better NBA Finals TV Coverage

ESPN’s coverage of the NBA Finals was criticized on social media.

Featured Today

Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.
Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.
June 15, 2025

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.
Jun 10, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands during the anthem against the Switzerland during the first at Geodis Park
June 14, 2025

Gold Cup Is Complicated for USMNT—but U.S. Soccer Has Its Eyes on..

Uncertain tournament success isn’t fazing forward-looking U.S. soccer.

Pacers Force Game 7, Could Spark Big Ratings Boost for NBA Finals

Game 7 could boost NBA Finals ratings after a slow start this year.
June 17, 2025

Streaming Tops Linear for First Time, Sports Still Key to TV’s Resilience

Streaming hits another critical milestone in an accelerating media transition.
June 17, 2025

Stanley Cup Final Delivers Drama but Struggles for Eyeballs in U.S.

U.S. viewership fell while Canadian audiences for the event rose slightly.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Ted Leonsis unpacks basketball’s global rise, media rights, and portfolio ownership.
June 17, 2025

Zaslav Takes Pay Cut, TNT Sports Future Unclear in WBD Shake-Up

The TNT Sports parent company retools its executive pay after shareholder pushback.
Tyrese Haliburton
June 16, 2025

NBA Finals Ratings Up Again in Game 4 but Still Down Overall

More than nine million people watched Games 3 and 4.
Thunder
June 16, 2025

NBA, ABC Air Finals Lineup Intros After Fan Complaints

ABC aired player intros for the first time in 12 years Monday. 
June 16, 2025

The 10 Most-Watched Major PGA Tour Events

Call it “The Masters” and invite Tiger Woods—fans will watch.