• Loading stock data...
Friday, December 19, 2025
    More
    Breakfast Ball is heading to San Francisco with hosts Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. Request to Attend
    Media

    NBA Playoffs’ Opening Weekend Ratings Highest In More Than a Decade

    • Viewership was up 37% over last year’s first weekend of games.
    • Sunday’s Nets-Celtics game averaged 6.9 million viewers.
    By
    Apr 19, 2022 | 04:58 pm
    David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

    Ratings for the opening weekend of the NBA Playoffs soared with an average of 4.05 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, and TNT, marking the most-watched first playoff weekend since 2011.

    Leading the way was Sunday’s Nets-Celtics thriller on ABC, which averaged 6.9 million viewers (3.1 rating) and peaked at 9.8 million, making it the most-viewed first-round game since 2016.

    Opening-weekend viewership collectively rose 37% from last year (2.95 million) and 41% from 2019 (2.88 million), according to Sports Media Watch. 

    In 2020, the postseason was forced to begin on a Monday in August after the season was delayed due to the pandemic.

    TNT’s Sunday night game between the defending champion Bucks and Bulls drew the largest opening-round postseason audience on cable since 2018, averaging 4.77 million viewers and a 2.2 rating, per Sports Media Watch.

    Linkedin
    Whatsapp
    Copy Link
    Link Copied
    Link Copied

    What to Read
    by

    First Amazon NBA Cup Final Draws 3 Million Viewers, Up 3%
    The championship game may get moved out of Las Vegas next year.
    Allisha Grat
    by

    WNBA Players Authorize Strike in Near-Unanimous Vote
    93% of players voted and 98% of them voted yes.
    Wisconsin middle blocker Carter Booth (52) is shown during their volleyball match Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at the Wisconsin Field House in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin beat UW-Milwaukee 3-0.
    by

    Why Pro Athletes’ Daughters Are Picking Volleyball
    The women’s volleyball Final Four starts in Kansas City on Thursday.
    by and

    Kalshi Shrugs Off Affiliates Spreading Fake Sports News
    Kalshi says affiliate badges are more like “hats with your logo.”

    Featured Today
    by

    How Pickleball Became One Massive Private-Equity Rollup
    Pickleball roads lead back to billionaire Tom Dundon.
    Dec 9, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) dribbles against Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead (23) during the first half at the 2025-26 NBA Emirates Cup at Scotiabank Arena
    December 13, 2025

    The Lucrative NBA Cup Is Here to Stay
    The in-season tournament, launched in 2023, is turning into a staple.
    The Los Angeles Chargers host executives from UCLA Health on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at The Bolt in El Segundo, CA.
    December 7, 2025

    The Multibillion-Dollar Business of Pro Athlete Recovery
    What started as ice baths has evolved into a multibillion-dollar industry.
    Big League Wiffle Ball
    November 29, 2025

    Celebrity-Backed Wiffle Ball Has Big-League Aspirations
    Big League Wiffle Ball team owners include Kevin Costner and David Adelman.

    More in Media
    by

    ‘TNF’ Clash of Super Bowl Favorites Could Be ‘Big One’ for Amazon
    The streamer will show its first NFL game with two 11-win teams.
    December 18, 2025

    Golf’s ‘Silly Season’ Shows Growing Appetite for Made-for-TV Events
    Several nontraditional golf events took place this fall.
    Pardon My Take
    exclusive
    December 18, 2025

    Netflix Paying Barstool 8 Figures Per Year Amid Podcast Push
    The biggest paid streamer is getting serious about podcasts.
    Sponsored

    Brian Hoyer: Patriots Lessons, NIL Chaos & His Post-NFL Career
    The former Patriots QB talks to FOS about college football’s radical transformation.
    December 18, 2025

    Why Patriots Dynasty Players Are Flooding Sports TV
    Former Patriots players are scooping up NFL broadcast roles.
    May 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; NBA commissioner is Adam Silver presents Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (not pictured) with the Michael Jordan Trophy for winning the most valuable player award for the 2024-25 season before game two of the western conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center.
    December 17, 2025

    Adam Silver Praises Amazon NBA Coverage, With Subtle Jab at Others 
    Silver praised Amazon’s coverage while taking veiled shots at league broadcast partners
    December 17, 2025

    Three Barstool Podcasts Moving Exclusively to Netflix
    Video versions of three Barstool podcasts will be on Netflix in 2026.
    Zaslav
    December 17, 2025

    TNT Sports Parent Rejects $108B Paramount Bid, Attacks Ellisons
    The board unanimously urged shareholders to stick with Netflix’s offer.