NBA viewership skyrockets by whopping 34% after blockbuster Martin Luther King Day games

Last season, NBA saw a massive dip in ir ratings throughout season. While COVID-19 crisis was one reason, reports were unable to pinpoint a reason. Some blamed strong Black Lives Matter movement support, while some spoke about Golden State Warriors' poor performance. However, as 2020-21 season began, ratings have apparently gone up. 

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NBA viewership sees an increase since Martin Lur King Day

According to recent reports, NBA TV ratings have gone up. This is an increase since last year, and has been observed since NBA MLK Day. league played 27 games through Martin Lur King Day, which has apparently resulted in a 34% increase across TNT, ESPN and ABC. This percent is compared to 2019-20 season (per Nielsen Media Research) – 2 million aver (2020-21) vs 1.49 aver viewers (2019-20). 

This year, TNT h a tripleheer cover – Phoenix Suns vs Memphis Grizzlies, Milwaukee Bucks vs Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers. Per reports, y brought in 1.73 million viewers, which is 32% more than 2019-20 season. Reports ded that Warriors and Lakers game saw a 90% increase in same window, while viewers who watched through NBA League Pass went up by 46%. 

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NBA League Pass (offered on site and app), has apparently ded 18% of viewership since last season on same platform.  Social media engments has also seen an increase. Reports also observed that ratings for this season h gone up last year itself. As per USA TODAY Sports and or media outlets, league saw a 67% increase in viewership as compared to 2020-21 season. Christmas Day alone saw a 10% hike in viewer count. 

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league's problems started last year, only worsening throughout NBA hiatus. NBA restart – including finals – saw a steep decline in ratings despite matchups which included Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat. As per Sports Media Watch's Jon Lewis, Lakers vs Denver Nuggets Game 2 became  least-watched NBA Conference Finals game since 2003.

Yet, it was observed that various sports saw a decline last year – including NHL playoffs, US Open (golf and tennis) and Kentucky Derby. t only did COVID-19 pandemic hit, but people also saw an overlap in sports calendar. 

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(Im credits: AP)