The NBA is facing a notable decline in viewership during the first week of the season despite an impressive opening night. While this season’s NBA games had an exciting start, they are struggling to maintain viewer interest as the season progresses.
According to data from Awful Announcing, ESPN’s opening doubleheader numbers were particularly concerning. The doubleheader averaged 1.6 million viewers, a 42% drop compared to last year’s debut featuring rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama.
The individual matches also reflected this downward trend. The game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers drew 1.71 million viewers, down from 2.55 million for the Celtics vs. Knicks game in 2023. Similarly, the matchup between the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Clippers garnered 1.52 million viewers, marking a 49% decrease from the previous year’s comparable game.
TNT’s Thursday night game, featuring the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks, attracted only 1.45 million viewers, a 29% decline from the same matchup last year. The situation worsened on Friday when ESPN aired a game between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks that drew just 830,000 viewers. The game fell short of a college football game aired on ESPN2.
Fans Weigh In On Sharp Drop In NBA Viewership
Following the recent report that NBA viewership has sharply declined in the first week of the season, fans have been quick to voice their opinions. Many fans have pointed fingers at streaming platforms, arguing that more people are choosing to stream games rather than watching them on traditional broadcast television.
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Additionally, some fans have expressed frustration with NBA League Pass, the league’s official streaming service. They argue that the location restrictions imposed by League Pass can make it difficult for many viewers to access certain games.
What’s more, some fans believe that the subscription cost for League Pass is too high, making it less appealing, especially for those already paying for multiple streaming services.
The decline in viewership is a concern for the NBA. It remains to be seen how Adam Silver comes forward to adapt to meet the evolving preferences of the NBA’s fan base.
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