NBC’s return as a domestic broadcaster of the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the first time in more than two decades delivered the best opening night for the competition since 2010.
Confirmed:
- The first “NBA Tip-Off” on NBC and Peacock averaged 5.6 million viewers across both platforms, according to Nielsen and Adobe Analytics data
- The double overtime clash between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets averaged 5.9 million and peaked at 7.1 million during the final minutes.
- Golden State Warriors averaged 5.1 million as part of a double header, which was simulcast on NBC’s Peacock direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming service.
- Peacock attracted 1 million viewers, its most-watched simulcast outside of the National Football League (NFL) or Olympic Games.
Context:
NBC last aired the NBA in 2002 but has returned to the fray with a new US$2.45 billion-a-year deal to show more than 100 regular games a season.
NBC is airing matches on Sunday and Thursday nights, alongside All-Star game content, playoff matches, and a conference series every other year. Peacock will simulcast all this coverage and stream exclusive matchups on Monday nights.
The NBA’s deals with NBC, Amazon and ESPN are worth a combined US$76 billion over 11 years.
Coming next:
NBC’s coverage continues with Peacock’s first exclusive NBA matchup on Monday 27th October. Sunday night coverage will begin following the conclusion of the NFL season.
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