NBA viewership spikes upward for 2015-2016 season


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Michelle Clancy

| 07 January 2016




NBA viewership is up across its television and digital platforms compared with the last basketball season, according to Nielsen.



Through 30 games (as of 5 January), the NBA is averaging 2.351 million viewers (P2+) on ESPN and ABC combined, up 4% from 2.257 million viewers (P2+) last season.

ESPN is also experiencing its most-watched NBA season across its digital platforms. On WatchESPN, the NBA has generated 152,000 unique viewers per game, up 61% from 95,000 last year. WatchESPN is also up 78% in average minute audience for its NBA games, with 41,000 compared to just over 23,000 a year ago.

“ESPN’s NBA audience is up, even amidst a significant increase in high-profile programming events during the first week of the season,” said Burke Magnus, executive vice president, programming and scheduling, ESPN. “That’s a testament to the compelling storylines and star power in the NBA today, and to ESPN’s place as the destination for NBA fans.”

Through two games on Christmas Day, viewership for the NBA on ABC is up as well, increasing 14% compared to last season. ABC is averaging 8.709 million viewers (P2+), compared to 7.648 million viewers (p2+) a year ago. The NBA on ABC resumes with the launch of its new franchise, NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC, 23 January.