Ratings roundup, including the most recent numbers for the NBA and NHL playoffs; the latest “KayRod” figures; and more.
Warriors-Grizzlies hits playoff cable-high
Last Tuesday’s Warriors-Grizzlies second round NBA playoff Game 2 averaged 5.32 million viewers on TNT, the largest audience of the postseason on cable. Viewership jumped as much as 47% from Clippers-Jazz last year (3.63M) but fell 14% from Rockets-Warriors Game 2 in ’19, the last time Golden State advanced to the semifinals (6.16M).
The Bucks-Celtics lead-in averaged 4.10 million, up as much as 13% from last year (Hawks-Sixers: 3.63M*) but down 8% from the same matchup in ’19 (4.45M).
On Wednesday night, Mavericks-Suns Game 2 averaged 4.17 million — up as much as 18% from last year (Nuggets-Suns: 3.53M) and 19% from 2019 (Blazers-Nuggets: 3.51M). The Sixers-Heat lead-in brought up the rear with 3.43 million.
Game 3 viewership Friday and Saturday will be available early in the week.
Turner’s first night of Stanley Cup Playoffs up double-digits
TBS and TNT averaged 699,000 viewers for their first night of Stanley Cup playoff coverage on Thursday, up 27% from the equivalent night last year and up 39% from 2019.
Penguins-Rangers Game 2 was Thursday’s top draw with a 0.52 rating and 1.00 million viewers on TNT, the most-watched opening round Game 2 on cable since 1997. Viewership increased as much as two-thirds from last year on NBCSN (Penguins-Islanders Game 2: 605K*).
The Predators-Avalanche nightcap drew 793,000 (+6%*). Over on TBS, Capitals-Panthers drew 470,000 (+43%*) and Stars-Flames 378,000.
The previous night, ESPN averaged 734,000 for Bruins-Hurricanes (+1%*) and 533,000 for Blues-Wild (+33%*) and ESPN2 chipped in 496,000 for Lightning-Maple Leafs (+160%*) and 374,000 for Kings-Oilers (+27%*).
“KayRod” bounces back after week off
Phillies-Mets averaged a 1.1 rating and 1.81 million viewers on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball last weekend, a figure that includes a 0.12 and 204,000 for the Alex Rodriguez-Michael Kay “KayRod” simulcast on ESPN2 — up considerably from the same matchup on the same weekend last year (0.8, 1.37M*). The “KayRod” simulcast increased dramatically from the previous edition two weeks earlier (100K).
FS1 averaged a 0.25 and 457,000 for the same matchup the previous day, preceded by a 0.23 and 344,000 for Angels-White Sox — both up from the network’s lone game on the same weekend last year (Indians-White Sox: 0.14, 251K*).
Rounding out the recent MLB slate, TBS drew just 139,000 for Giants-Dodgers this past Tuesday night — a season-low.
Plus: PGA Tour, NASCAR, IndyCar, boxing
Final round coverage of the PGA Tour Mexico Open averaged a 1.4 rating and 2.28 million viewers on CBS last Sunday and a 0.9 and 1.46 million the previous day, both the lowest since the tournament moved from Doral. … Last week’s NASCAR Cup Series race from Dover averaged a 0.75 and 1.2 million across Sunday (1.3, 2.0M) and Monday (0.7, 944K). … Last Sunday’s IndyCar Series race from Alabama averaged a 0.6 and 920,000 on NBC, about even with last year, when the race served as the season opener (0.6, 914K*). … The latest edition of ESPN Top Rank Boxing scored a 0.7 and 1.17 million last Saturday, comfortably outdrawing its UFC lead-in (0.47, 830K). Per Sports Business Journal, viewership surpassed last year’s Top Rank average on ESPN by 55%.