While TNT trembles at the idea of losing the NBA, the Wolves and the Nuggets gave it the biggest audience in its history (for a first round or conference semi-final game) with 7.5 million viewers for 3.7% market share during the broadcast of Game 7 on Sunday evening.
According to SportsMediaWatch, there were even 8.41 million on the cable channel, if we add all those who followed the match via truTV, and it is quite simply a record. The previous best audience dates back to 2009 with the 7th round between the Magic and the Cavaliers, with 8.38 million viewers in front of the screens.
Incidentally, TNT achieved the biggest audience of the season for an NBA match, all channels combined, this is the 4th audience since 2012 for first round and conference semi-final matches. The three meetings ahead of them all date from 2023, with Game 7 Warriors-Kings (9.84 million), Game 6 Warriors-Lakers (8.64 million) and finally Game 7 Sixers-Celtics (8.44 million).
Playoffs less watched than in 2023
Before the 7th round between the Nuggets and the Wolves, Game 7 between the Knicks and the Pacers had not achieved a big hit on ABC with 6.45 million viewers, for a market share of 3.4%. Or drops of 11% in market share, and 24% in volume, compared to the decisive round between the Celtics and the Sixers in 2023.
Since the start of the playoffs, and before the start of the conference finals, the matches have averaged 3.77 million viewers. This is 11% less than last season. But this remains the second best record over the last ten years for the series of the first two rounds of the postseason.
