The NBA and NHL Championship Series kicked off with a bang, attracting massive audiences and setting new records. ABC's coverage of the NBA Finals opener between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs averaged 16.93 million viewers, a 90% increase from last year's game 1. This was the fifth largest audience for an NBA Finals opener in ABC's 24-year history, with the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers matchups from 2015-18 taking the top spots. The Knicks' win, coupled with their presence in the country's largest media market, likely contributed to the high viewership. The San Antonio Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama, have also been a ratings draw during the postseason, with their Western Conference finals game against the Oklahoma City Thunder attracting 15.9 million viewers on NBC and Peacock.
The Stanley Cup Finals opener on ABC delivered 4.78 million viewers, a 54% increase from the 2024 opener and nearly double the viewers from last year's game on TNT and TruTV. The Las Vegas Golden Knights' win against the Carolina Hurricanes was the largest audience for a Stanley Cup Finals opener since 2019, and the largest ever on ESPN/ABC, including their previous rights periods in 1994 and 2000-04.
These impressive ratings gains are not solely attributed to ABC's coverage. Nielsen's changes to its methodology, including a big data component and out-of-home data collection, have generally resulted in larger numbers for live sports. However, the NBA and NHL finals openers have seen significant increases that surpass the marginal gains from these changes.
The success of these championship series highlights the enduring appeal of basketball and hockey. The NBA Finals, with its star-studded teams and high-stakes games, continues to captivate audiences, while the Stanley Cup Finals showcases the thrill of ice hockey and the rise of new teams like the Golden Knights. These ratings successes also underscore the importance of media market presence and the ability to draw viewers with exciting matchups and rising stars. As the series progress, ABC and other networks will continue to capitalize on these high ratings, ensuring that the NBA and NHL remain prominent in the sports broadcasting landscape.
