NBA Play-in viewership up thus far in streaming debut on Prime Video
Sports Media Watch • • sports
Key Points:
- The NBA Play-in Tournament on Prime Video averaged 2.69 million viewers in its first two nights, marking a 12% increase from last year's cable broadcasts on TNT and ESPN, with significant viewership gains among younger demographics.
- The Warriors-Clippers game drew 3.15 million viewers, a 47% increase from the previous year's comparable game, and became the most-watched NBA game on Prime Video to date.
- While most Play-in games saw viewership increases, the Trail Blazers-Suns game declined by 30%, contributing to a slight 7% drop in the Tuesday doubleheader average.
- Prime Video's Play-in Tournament performance contrasts with its lower regular season viewership compared to traditional networks but suggests the platform can attract linear-level audiences for marquee NBA events.
- The strong streaming numbers come amid changes in Nielsen's measurement methodology and growing federal scrutiny of sports leagues' media rights deals with streaming services.
