Whole NBA viewership is down 18 p.c this yr throughout ESPN, TNT, and ABC, even after accounting for the NBA Cup last drawing 2.99 million viewers. Final yr’s NBA Cup last averaged 4.58 million viewers.
Whereas there have been numerous causes cited for the decline within the NBA’s rankings, whole cable viewership can also be down 13 p.c this yr.
The NBA’s subsequent media-rights deal begins subsequent season and can embrace streaming choices on Amazon and Peacock. The NFL’s rankings are typically decrease on Amazon.
The NBA’s viewership on Christmas has additionally dwindled as a result of NFL. Final season, the NBA averaged 2.85 million viewers on Christmas versus the NFL which drew not less than 27 million viewers for all three video games.