This isn’t shocking — but the NBA Christmas Day games were once again a success, with the NBA Finals rematch doing monster numbers.
Per ESPN Media:
On Christmas, the Golden State Warriors’ 89-83 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on ABC, a rematch of the most-watched NBA Finals in ABC history, drew nearly 11 million viewers (10,923,000, p2+), according to Fast Nationals from Nielsen. It was up 17 percent from the comparable game in 2014 (Cavaliers-Heat, 9,328,000 viewers, p2+). The Warriors-Cavaliers telecast was the most-watched NBA Christmas Day telecast since 2011.
Numbers for NBA on Christmas were up across the board, with some big-time matchups helping.
This year’s five-game slate averaged 5,546,000 viewers (p2+) up six percent compared to last year’s five-game slate (5,217,000 viewers p2+), which saw just three games on ABC and ESPN combined. Also, viewership for all five games on ABC and ESPN was up from 2013, the last time ABC and ESPN combined for a five-game Christmas Day slate
NBA Christmas Day delivered ESPN’s second-most watched prime-time doubleheader ever, and matched ESPN’s second most-watched tripleheader ever, averaging 3,324,000 viewers (p2+) and 3,413,000 viewers (p2+), respectively.
The Association and Christmas Day is the gift that keeps on giving.