Christmas Games Boost NBA Ratings After Early Season Struggles
The NBA’s Christmas Day games significantly improved TV ratings, easing concerns over early season declines and boosting viewership numbers.
NBA, Christmas Day, LeBron James, Steph Curry, TV Ratings, Viewership, 2023
Los Angeles: So, the NBA ratings were looking pretty grim at the start of the season. Everyone was buzzing about how the numbers were down, and some folks were even saying it was a disaster.
People were throwing around all sorts of reasons—like too many 3-pointers, players being too nice, or the league being too “woke.” It was a wild time for hot takes.
Then came Christmas, and wow, what a turnaround! The holiday games brought in a whopping 84% more viewers than last year. It was like a breath of fresh air for the NBA.
The Lakers and Warriors game was a standout, pulling in nearly 8 million viewers. LeBron and Steph always bring the heat on Christmas, and it showed.
But here’s the kicker: back in 2015, those same teams had even bigger numbers. The TV landscape has changed a lot since then, with way fewer people subscribing to cable. So, while the ratings are down, the context really matters.
And get this—NBA sales are actually up 6% since the season started. So, while the ratings might look scary, the money is still flowing in.
Christmas has always been the unofficial start of the NBA season. Fans are busy with other sports until then, so it’s no surprise that ratings pick up when the league finally gets its moment in the spotlight.
As the season rolls on, the NBA’s media partners will start paying more attention to those ratings. But honestly, if you’re not in the ad game, you probably don’t need to stress about the numbers too much.
And let’s not forget, the NBA is in a pretty solid spot financially. They’ve got a new rights deal coming next year, which should help boost those ratings even more.
So, while everyone’s been fretting over the ratings, it’s worth remembering that they don’t always tell the whole story. And hey, what about the NHL or college basketball? Why is everyone so focused on the NBA right now?