Ratings Roundup: WNBA Matchups Bring Viewership Highs Across Networks; Stanley Cup Playoffs Peaking in Viewership on ESPN
Story Highlights
Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week’s edition, NBC’s Sunday Night Football is ranked number 1 primetime show for 13th year; ESPN’s second round PGA Championship averages 1.6 million viewers; and more.
Boston Celtics Victory Over Indiana Pacers on ESPN Delivered Largest NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 Audience Since 2018
The Boston Celtics victory in an overtime thriller against the Indiana Pacers on ESPN last night was the most-watched NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 on any network since 2018, according to Nielsen.
Game 1 averaged 6,433,000 viewers across ESPN and ESPN2, up eight percent from last year’s Eastern Conference Finals Game 1. The audience peaked with 8,362,000 viewers at 10:30 p.m. ET.
The Game 1 broadcast was the most-watched program of the day across all of television and led the way in all key demographics, including all key adult and male demographics.
Additionally, it was the most-watched NBA Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 on ESPN since 2012.
The NBA Eastern Conference Finals Presented By AT&T, exclusively on ESPN platforms, continues with Game 2 on Thursday, May 23, at 8 p.m. ET as the Pacers look to even the series with the Celtics at TD Garden in Boston, Ma.
NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” Finishes TV Season as Primetime’s No. 1 Show for Record 13th Consecutive Year, With Best Viewership Since 2015
- Average (P2+) Viewership
- Household Rating
- Household Share
- People 2-17
- Adults 18-34
- Adults 18-49
- Adults 18-54
- Adults 25-54
- Men 18-34
- Men 18-49
- Men 18-54
- Men 25-54
- Women 18-49
- Women 18-54
- Women 25-54
First Two Rounds of 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Most-Watched Ever; Round Two Up 12% and is Most-Watched Ever on Cable
- Across the U.S., the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs is the most-watched Round 2 ever on cable, delivering an average audience of 1.546 million viewers, up 12% from 2023 (ESPN, TNT, TBS, and truTV)
- The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs are the most-watched Stanley Cup Playoffs through the first two rounds ever, delivering an average audience of 1.158 million viewers, up 9% YOY. (ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, TNT, TBS and truTV)
2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN Nets Up 15% To Conclude Second Round
- The NHL Playoffs Second Round on ESPN Nets averaged 1.57M total viewers and 660K P18-49, up 9% and 1% YoY
- They delivered ESPN’s largest second round audience since re-acquiring the rights in 2021
- Through two rounds (35 games), the Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN Nets are averaging 1.23M total viewers and 522K P18-49, up 15% and 9% vs. the comparable point in 2023
ABC Delivered Its Most-Viewed WNBA Opening Weekend Doubleheader
- Indiana Fever vs New York Liberty was most-viewed WNBA game on ABC ever
- 1.71 million viewers
- Viewership peaked with 1.96 million viewers
- Most viewed opening weekend doubleheader ever on ABC
- 1.5 million average viewers
- +143% versus 2023 season average on ABC
- Los Angeles Sparks vs Las Vegas Aces
- 1.34 million viewers
- Viewership peaked with. 1.55 million viewrees
- Third most-viewed WNBA game on ABC ever
- WNBA Countdown
- 714,000 average viewers
- +45% versus 2023 season average on ABC
ESPN’s Second Round PGA Championship Coverage up 18 Percent Over 2023
ESPN’s live telecast of the second round of the PGA Championship on Friday, May 17, averaged 1.6 million viewers, an increase of 18 percent in audience compared to the second round coverage in 2023.
Friday’s telecast, which ran from noon until 8 p.m. ET, peaked a 2 million viewers during the 6-6:15 p.m. quarter hour. Last year’s second round telecast averaged 1.369 million viewers.
Also on Friday, the ESPN BET at the PGA Championship alternate telecast on ESPN2 averaged 323,000 viewers between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., up from 164,000 average viewers during the first round on Thursday.
The PGA Championship with No Laying Up alternate telecast that aired on ESPN2 from 1-3 p.m. averaged 155,000 viewers, up from 89,000 average viewers on Thursday.
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Second Round on ESPN Nets Up 32% (Avalanche-Stars)
- The May 15 Avalanche-Stars Game 5 averaged 1.6M total viewers (peaking at 1.96M) and 595K P18-49, up 27% and 8% vs. 2023’s Second Round to date average on ESPN
- Through 11 games, the Second Round on ESPN is averaging 1.62M total viewers and 672K P18-49, up 32% and 21% vs. the comparable point in 2023
- Through 33 games, the Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN nets are averaging 1.2M total viewers and 517K P18-49, up 26% and 19% vs. the comparable point in 2023
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Second Round on ESPN Nets Up 33% (Bruins-Panthers)
- The May 15th Bruins-Panthers Game 5 averaged 2M total viewers, (peaking at 3.2M) and 770K P18-49, up 63% and 39% vs. 2023’s Second Round to date average on ESPN
- This is the most-viewed Game 5 of a Second Round NHL Playoff series on cable on record
- Through 10 games, the Second Round on ESPN is averaging 1.62M total viewers and 680K P18-49, up 33% and 23% vs. the comparable point in 2023
- Through 32 games, the Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN Nets are averaging 1.2M total viewers and 515K P18-49, up 25% and 19% vs. the comparable point in 2023
Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun Most-Watched WNBA Game on ESPN Platforms Ever
Indiana at Connecticut delivers 2.1 million viewers across ESPN2, ESPN+, Disney+ and the game peaked at 2.3 million viewers.
ESPN’s presentation of the 2024 WNBA Tip-Off Presented by CarMax reached new viewership heights for WNBA on ESPN.
The Indiana Fever at Connecticut Sun season opener – featuring Caitlin Clark’s WNBA debut – was the most-watched WNBA game on ESPN platforms ever (regular season or playoffs). The game scored 2.1 million viewers across ESPN2, ESPN+ and Disney+, surpassing the Phoenix Mercury at Connecticut Sun (May 22, 2004).
The game peaked at 2.3 million viewers in the 7:45 p.m. – 7:59 p.m. window.
The second game of the night featuring the Phoenix Mercury at Las Vegas Aces averaged 464,000 viewers, up five percent year-over-year. The two games averaged 1.28 million viewers, up 192 percent versus last year’s regular season average on ESPN platforms.
WNBA Countdown presented by Google pre-game show leading into Indiana at Connecticut averaged 680,000 viewers across ESPN2, ESPN+, and Disney+, up 126 percent versus last year’s average across ABC and ESPN.
WNBA content across ESPN.com and the ESPN App delivered an increase of 409 percent unique visitors year-over-year. Total engagements for WNBA content across ESPN social accounts is also up 125 percent, year-over-year.
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Second Round on ESPN Nets Up 35% (Hurricanes-Rangers)
- The May 13th Hurricanes-Rangers Game 5 averaged 1.8M total viewers (peaking at 2.3M) and 775K P18-49, up 50% and 40% vs. 2023’s Second Round to Date average on ESPN
- This is the most-viewed Game 5 of a Second Round NHL Playoff series on cable since 2013
- Through 8 games, the Second Round on ESPN is averaging 1.64M total viewers and 694K P18-49, up 35% and 25% vs. the comparable point in 2023
- Through 30 games, the Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN Nets are averaging 1.2M total viewers and 508K P18-49, up 23% and 17% vs. the comparable point in 2023
Stanley Cup Playoffs: Second Round on ESPN Nets Up 32% (Bruins-Panthers)
- The May 8th Bruins-Panthers Game 2 averaged 1.8M total viewers (peaking at 2.3M) and 712K P18-49, up 49% and 29% vs. 2023’s Second Round Games 1-4 average on ESPN
- Through 6 games, the Second Round on ESPN is averaging 1.7M total viewers and 708K P18-49, up 32% and 23% vs. the comparable point in 2023
