ESPN Delivers Most-Watched NBA Christmas Day Since 2004

By: Caryn Robbins Dec. 28, 2012

ESPN delivered its most-watched NBA Christmas Day since 2004 on Tuesday, according to Nielsen. The three-game set averaged 2,819,000 viewers (P2+), up 10 percent from 2,571,000 viewers in 2010. In addition, the games averaged a 2.0 household coverage rating, up 11 percent from a 1.8 for ESPN's coverage in 2010. ESPN's 2012 NBA Christmas Day scheduled included, Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets at Chicago Bulls and Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Clippers.

ESPN's primetime doubleheader - Rockets at Bulls and Nuggets at Clippers - delivered double-digit increases compared to 2010. The two games averaged a 1.7 rating and 2,347,000 viewers, up 31 percent from a 1.3 rating and up 25 percent from 1,882,000 viewers compared to ESPN's primetime doubleheader in 2010 - Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors.

ESPN also generated double-digit growth in all key demos for its NBA Christmas Day telecasts compared to 2010: M18-34 - 2.1 rating, up 24 percent vs. 1.7; M18-49 - 1.9 rating, up 12 percent vs. 1.7; M25-54 - 1.9 rating, up 12 percent vs. 1.7; P18-34 - 1.5 rating, up 25 percent vs. 1.2; P18-49 - 1.4 rating, up 17 percent vs. 1.2; P25-54 - 1.4 rating, up 17 percent vs. 1.2.

In 2004, ESPN televised the Detroit Pistons-Indiana Pacers Christmas Day game, the only ESPN game that day, which delivered 4,325,000 viewers and a 3.5 rating.