Sunday September 24, 2023
The Best Employers in Sports Survey is Now Open!

NBA Playoffs Is Most-Watched in Five Years, But Finals Lag

  • NBA playoff viewership reached a five-year high after especially strong early-round ratings.
  • Nuggets-Heat on ABC was the least-watched non-COVID year NBA Finals since 2007.
Nuggets-Heat was the least-watched non-COVID year Finals since 2007.
Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
Front Office Sports Today

How Rupert Murdoch Changed Sports Media Forever

As he steps down as chair of Fox and News Corp., we discuss his monumental and ongoing impact.
Listen Now
September 22, 2023 | Podcast
Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

The 2023 NBA Playoffs across ABC, ESPN, and TNT averaged 5.47 million viewers per game broadcast, making it the league’s most-watched postseason in five years.

Rating highlights for this year’s NBA playoffs include Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, which averaged 11.9 million viewers as TNT’s most-watched ECF game ever and its third-most watched NBA game ever. Game 6 of that series on TNT was the most-watched ECF Game 6 on any network in 11 years.

Playoff broadcasts (36 games) on ESPN platforms increased by two percent from 2022 and ranked as the network’s most-watched NBA playoffs since 2019, with 6.39 million average viewers. Through the first two postseason rounds, ESPN platforms (including ABC) averaged 5.2 million viewers, making it the most-watched first and second-round coverage ever on ESPN platforms and a 14% increase over last year’s coverage. 

The driving force behind this year’s five-year playoff viewership high came from earlier rounds rather than the NBA Finals between the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat on ABC, which averaged 11.6 million viewers across five games. It was the third-lowest average audience for an NBA Finals since 2007, according to Nielsen data cited by Sports Media Watch, only beating out the 2020 and 2021 pandemic Finals that were played off-schedule.

This year’s Nuggets-Heat Finals on ABC was down six percent from last year’s Golden State Warriors-Boston Celtics, which averaged 12.4 million viewers across six games.

The NBA’s current media rights deals with ESPN (Disney) and TNT (Warner Bros. Discovery) will run for two more seasons until the end of the 2024-25 season. The league is expected to seek a combined $50 billion to $75 billion in its next wave of media rights contracts, drawing interest from NBC and Amazon.  

Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sponsored

NHL’s Chris Foster on Amplifying Content Distribution With Automation

Learn how the NHL is using WSC Sports to increase fan engagement.
Deion Sanders and The Rock

Deion Sanders Reshaping College Football Fanbase With Buffaloes Surge

Deion Sanders has made Colorado "Black America's Team."
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is tripped up by New York Jets defensive end Solomon Thomas in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium.

NFL Viewership Sees 2% Increase in First Two Weeks of 2023 Season

The NFL is experiencing its highest viewership since 2018.
Sponsored

How Daktronics Helps Elite Athletic Programs Secure Top Talent

How colleges are utilizing Daktronics' displays to elevate recruiting.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

How Rupert Murdoch Changed Sports Media Forever

0:00
0:00

Featured Today

Deion Sanders with The Rock on ESPN's "College GameDay."

Deion Sanders Generated $45M In Earned Media For Colorado

From Sept.1-22, Sanders generated $45.7M for the public university.
September 23, 2023

Up Next For College Football Playoffs: More Change, Money, And ... Streaming?

Many changes are coming to the CFP when it expands to 12 teams.
September 22, 2023

Warriors Stake Reportedly Up For Sale at $7B Valuation

A 10% stake in the franchise could cost $700 million.
September 22, 2023

Jaguars Threaten Move Without $1B From Jacksonville Taxpayers

The Jagaurs are hoping to renovate TIAA Bank Field for $2 billion.

Careers

Powered By

Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.
Chicago Cubs
Chicago
Fanatics
New York
Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group, Inc.
USA - Multiple Locations
NBC will reportedly pay $287 million annually across five years to air broadcast on USA Network.

NBC Inks WWE SmackDown Rights for Reported $1.4 Billion

The reported rights fee is about 40% higher than SmackDown's Fox deal.
September 20, 2023

Can Amazon Keep Up NFL Viewership Boost After Record Week 1?

The San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants face off on Thursday night.
September 19, 2023

WBD Pursues ‘Different’ Strategy For Sports on Max

Company to place all of its live sports on new streaming tier
Deion Sanders
September 19, 2023

Colorado's Epic Victory Sets New ESPN Prime Time Viewership Record

Coach Prime Deion Sanders delivered in prime time on ESPN.
Joe Buck and Troy Aikman
September 18, 2023

'Monday Night Football' Returns To ABC Amid Entertainment Breakdown

ABC will simulcast 15 regular season "Monday Night Football" games.
September 15, 2023

DSG Looks To Use NHL Kings Deal As Reorganization Model

Agreement arrives as bankrupt RSN operator nears deadline for reorganization plan
September 14, 2023

Netflix Fatigue May Be Hitting Sports Docuseries

Netflix cameras won't have full access at the Ryder Cup.
September 14, 2023

NBA Cracks Down On Player Rest Ahead of Multi-Billion Dollar Rights Talks

NBA rest days will be regulated as league prepares for rights talks.