The NBA and NHL Championship Series have kicked off with a bang, attracting massive audiences and setting new records. ABC's coverage of the opening games of both series has been a resounding success, with the NBA Finals opener between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs drawing an impressive 16.93 million viewers. This marks the best viewership for an NBA Finals opener since 2018 and a 90% increase from last year's game 1. The Knicks' victory in San Antonio, led by the rising star Victor Wembanyama, contributed to this surge in interest. The Spurs' own Western Conference finals performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder also drew a substantial audience of 15.9 million viewers on NBC and Peacock.
The NHL Stanley Cup Finals opener on ABC saw a 54% increase in viewership compared to the previous year's game, with 4.78 million viewers tuning in to watch the Las Vegas Golden Knights defeat the Carolina Hurricanes. This game was the largest audience for a Stanley Cup Finals opener since 2019, and the highest viewership for a Stanley Cup series opener on ESPN/ABC, including their previous rights periods. These impressive numbers are not solely due to ABC's coverage but also to the changing methodology of Nielsen, which has introduced a big data component and expanded out-of-home data collection, resulting in larger numbers for live sports.
What makes these numbers even more remarkable is the competition. The NBA Finals opener was the fifth-largest audience for the NBA Finals opener in the 24 years ABC has held the rights, and the Stanley Cup Finals opener was the largest audience for a Cup finals opener on ESPN/ABC, including their previous rights periods. This indicates a strong interest in these sports, despite the presence of other major sporting events.
The success of these championship series openers is a testament to the enduring popularity of the NBA and NHL. The high viewership numbers suggest that these sports continue to captivate audiences, even as other major sporting events vie for attention. The NBA and NHL's ability to consistently deliver exciting games and compelling storylines is a key factor in their continued success. As the series progress, these sports will undoubtedly continue to draw in viewers, ensuring their place as some of the most-watched events in sports.
