• Loading stock data...
Friday, February 7, 2025

On a Crowded Christmas, the NBA Got Coal—So Say Their Dismal Ratings

  • Viewership for the five Christmas games were down, some significantly, compared to 2022.
  • The NFL, meanwhile, saw viewership increases for its Christmas tripleheader.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA knew the NFL was coming to steal its Christmas viewers. The ratings show that its strategy is working.

Not only did the NFL see viewership increases for all three of its broadcast windows in the league’s second year of offering a Christmas Day tripleheader, but those numbers seemingly came at the expense of the NBA’s traditional slate of games. Among the NFL’s wins: That day’s Las Vegas Raiders-Kansas City Chiefs game on CBS scored 29.2 million viewers, making it the most-watched Christmas Day game in 34 years. 

The NBA, meanwhile, saw viewership decline in each of its five games compared to the same broadcast windows in 2022. The steepest drop came from the Philadelphia 76ers-Miami Heat matchup, which drew 1.3 million viewers on ESPN and ESPN2, down 73% from last year’s 8 p.m. ET matchup between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors. The 2022 game was simulcast on ABC, but this year the NFL’s nightcap (Baltimore Ravens-San Francisco 49ers) got the main network slot.

Three of the NBA’s other four games were down significantly—42%, 39%, and 18%—from comparable broadcasts on Christmas Day in 2022, according to Sports Media Watch. The Denver Nuggets’ 120-114 victory over Golden State at 2:30 p.m. ET garnered 4.1 million viewers, per the New York Post, which would be down 5% from Dallas Mavericks-Los Angeles Lakers in that time slot in 2022.

Next year could bring some reprieve for the NBA as Christmas falls on a Wednesday, a day the NFL typically doesn’t play. But in the long term, it’s clear that the NBA will continue facing competition most years, now that the NFL has decided to embrace the holiday.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Donald Trump

Trump Threatens to Eliminate Tax Breaks for Sports Owners

Amortization and other strategies have saved sports owners millions.

Super Bowl Ticket Prices Still Dropping As Lodging Costs Soar

Prices have fallen by another 20% since Monday amid a local lodging crunch.
Tom Brady

Tom Brady Calls Chiefs Conspiracy Theories ‘BS’

The Fox analyst defended NFL refs ahead of Super Bowl LIX.

Featured Today

‘Ultimate Throwback’: The Unimpeachable Cool of Hartford Whalers Gear

Nostalgia and street cred have driven a consistent frenzy for merch.
January 20, 2024; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Kristin Juszczyk, wife of San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk (44), before a 2024 NFC divisional round game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium.
February 1, 2025

The New WAGs: Sports Wives Building Business Empires

Athletes’ wives and girlfriends are bucking stereotypes and cashing in.
Feb 3, 2019; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears mascot dances on the court during a stoppage in play in the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at Haas Pavilion.
January 31, 2025

The Toll of Bicoastal Travel on New ACC Members Cal and Stanford

Cal and Stanford face missed flights, chaotic sleep schedules, and academic demands.
January 28, 2025

It’s Starting to Pay to Be Good at Cornhole

American Cornhole League players made $7.7 million in 2024.

ESPN Faces Potential Exit from MLB Media Rights As Opt-Out Looms

A 35-year rights relationship now faces a very different media landscape.
February 7, 2025

How Much Longer Can Fox Sports Keep the Top-Rated Pregame Crew Together?

The three have been at Fox NFL Sunday since 1994.
Nov 23, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Mercedes AMG Petronas driver Lewis Hamilton (44) leads Oracle Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) during the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Circuit.
February 7, 2025

Netflix Exploring Bid for Formula One Rights in U.S. Starting 2026

ESPN holds the rights to F1 through 2025.
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.
February 6, 2025

NFL Exec: We’re Reaching More Fans Without Spreading Too Thin

NFL media executive Brian Rolapp is bullish on the evolution of streaming.
Stephen A. Smith
exclusive
February 5, 2025

Stephen A. Smith Says Deal to Return to ESPN Coming ‘Very, Very..

Smith’s old contract was set to expire this summer.
Dec 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; FOX broadcaster and former NFL quarterback Tom Brady looks on before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
February 5, 2025

Tom Brady Cagey About Scope of Role With Raiders

Brady was approved as a minority owner in the Raiders in October.
February 5, 2025

Disney Earnings Highlight ESPN Comeback; Iger High on NBA’s Future

Revenues and operating income grow at the ESPN parent company.