The NBA’s Christmas Day Triumph: A Ratings Resurgence
While concerns linger about the NBA’s overall television viewership trends in the US, the league delivered a resounding success story on Christmas Day 2023.
This year’s Christmas Day games captivated audiences,drawing an average of 5.25 million viewers per game across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, Disney+, and ESPN+. This impressive figure marks the highest viewership for a Christmas Day slate in the past five years, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the NBA during the holiday season.
The highly anticipated clash between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers, featuring superstars Steph Curry and LeBron James, unsurprisingly dominated the ratings.The game averaged a staggering 7.76 million viewers, peaking at 8.32 million, making it the most-watched regular season game in the last five years. This represents a remarkable 499% increase in television ratings compared to the same time slot on Christmas Day 2022.The compelling nature of the matchups contributed significantly to these impressive numbers.With the exception of the Phoenix Suns versus Denver Nuggets game,all contests remained tightly contested until the final buzzer,keeping viewers engaged. While the Suns-Nuggets game drew the smallest audience (3.84 million viewers), this can be attributed to it’s late start time on the East coast (8:30 PM) and even later on the West Coast (11:30 PM). Notably, it still achieved the highest viewership ever recorded for a Christmas Day game in that time slot.
the NBA’s Christmas Day television viewership surged by an impressive 84% compared to 2022, showcasing the league’s ability to draw massive audiences for marquee matchups.
This television success was mirrored online, with NBA social media channels generating a record-breaking 500 million video views on Christmas Day. Similarly, the number of viewers subscribing to NBA League Pass also reached an all-time high.
The NBA’s Christmas Day triumph takes on added significance considering the NFL’s efforts to compete for viewers this year. Two high-profile NFL games featuring popular teams like the Kansas city Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens were broadcast on Netflix, but the NBA’s star power and compelling matchups ultimately prevailed.
NBA Christmas Ratings surge: A Slam Dunk with Shaq
Welcome back, hoops fans! Today, we’re joined by NBA legend shaquille O’Neal to discuss the league’s remarkable Christmas Day ratings surge. Shaq, thanks for joining us.
Shaq: anytime, man. Happy to talk hoops!
I have to say, these numbers are amazing. 5.25 million viewers per game? That’s a major statement for the NBA. What do you think fueled this resurgence, Shaq?
Shaq: Listen, it’s simple. The NBA is about stars, and Christmas Day is prime time.You had Steph [Curry] and LeBron [James] going head-to-head – that’s box office right there. People want to see the big names, and they want to see them compete.
The Warriors-Lakers game pulling in almost 8 million viewers? That’s insane! That’s gotta be encouraging for the league, especially with concerns about general viewership trends.
Shaq: There’s no doubt whatsoever, man. The whole league feels the pressure to stay relevant. The NFL made a big push this year with those Christmas games on Netflix. but the NBA held its ground. That says something about the power NBA matchups have on a holiday like Christmas.
Let’s talk about the other games. The Suns-Nuggets game did well considering its late start time. What do you
make of that?
Shaq: People love their basketball, even if it means staying up late.The NBA’s gotta keep finding ways to reach those fans, though. Maybe move some big games to earlier time slots next year. A Christmas triple-header would be a crazy ratings grab!
Focusing on the future, what does this Christmas success mean for the NBA moving forward?
Shaq: It’s a shot in the arm, no doubt.it shows the league’s still got that magic. But they can’t be complacent. They gotta keep innovating, keep finding ways to engage fans. Maybe experiment with different formats, in-game experiences, things like that.
That’s a good point.
What else do you think the NBA needs to do to sustain this momentum?
Shaq:** It’s all about giving the fans what they want – exciting games, star power, and some off-court fun. Just like the NBA on Christmas Day!
So fans, what are YOUR thoughts on the NBA’s ratings resurgence? Were you glued to the TV on Christmas Day? Is the connection to stars all-
important? Let us know in the comments below!
