Game 1 Of 2020 NBA Finals Draws 5.31M Viewers

[RealGM Wiretap]

Game 1 of the 2020 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat had a 2.2 rating in the 18-49 demographic to go with 5.31 million viewers overall.

The Lakers defeated the Heat 116-98 in a game that was not as close as the final score.

Game 1 of the 2019 Finals between the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors drew 13.5 million viewers while Game 1 in 2018 between the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers drew 17.7 million viewers. 

Via Deadline

[aguifs]

Since NBA became the Chinese league, I don't give a fu...

[Dmagic]

the political crap rubbed americans the wrong way--bc of how they(players)(mostly lebron) went about it and what they were implying--point blank--its not the "pandemic"
we as americans arent dumb--we know lebron has a personal beef with trump and that he is highly influential to all players. esp his friends like cp3. FACTS
and lets not act like the whole black stuff isnt kinda racist towards white people--it is--it excludes them and points to racism as a huge problem--not everyone believes this

we all agree police policy needs improved--they should have focused on that instead of making it something that it perhaps isnt

the players dont know enough facts on these cases to SHOUT injustice--its just the truth

[jamesnamida]

Lebron fatigue,
Especially since most people know the series won’t be competitive.
Lakers have 2 nba first team players- two top five players in the league.
And they have better role players, Dwight and rondo are playing like their all star selves in limited minutes. Danny green The prototypical 3 n D is out of his funk, and Morris Is better than half the teams 6th man

Would’ve meant more/ be more interesting if lebron brought last years cast to the finals, or if the underdog nuggets were playing.

Plus the politics and lebron doing a 180 of boycotting the post season a month ago was a put off. Like stick with ur morals. He lead the boycott after the bucks did it, then realized players and owners were fine with cancelling the season- which made him immediately argue for the continuation during the players meeting since the would cost him a Easy chip after stacking the deck with Anthony Davis.. im fine with him wanting to win a title to try and catch MJ who’s a dick, but u can’t have it both ways.

[scrabbarista]

I think it's everything cited itt, plus cord cutting, plus some whack officiating this postseason. I still think cord cutting is the biggest factor, but I have no doubt that the political mess and double standards (bitch ass white boy) are turning some people off. Same goes for all the other factors cited: pandemic, China hypocrisy, LeBron fatigue, weird time of year, perceived mismatch, no fans in the stadiums, etc..

[Tanks1]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/justinbirnbaum/2020/09/30/the-least-watched-stanley-cup-since-2007-proves-the-nhl-needs-to-reset-its-calendar/#57973f0b4210

[oaktownwarriors87]

Game 1 of the 2020 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat had a 2.2 rating... 5.31 million viewers overall.

Game 1 of the 2019 Finals between the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors drew 13.5 million

Game 1 in 2018 between the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers drew 17.7 million viewers.

Woooo there, RealGM.

Canada isn't included in those ratings. 7.1 Million Canadians watched game 1 in 2019.

2020 = 5.3 (Lakers/Heat)
2019 = 20.2 (Warriors/Raptors)
2018 = 17.7 (Warriors/Cavs)
2017 = 18.7 (Warriors/Cavs)
2016 = 19.2 (Warriors/Cavs)
2015 = 17.8 (Warriors/Cavs)
2014 = 14.9 (Heat/Spurs)
2013 = 14.2 (Heat/Spurs)
2012 = 16.2 (Heat/Thunder)
2011 = 15.2 (Heat/Mavs)
2010 = 14.1 (Lakers/Celtics)
2009 = 13.0 (Lakers/Magic)
2008 = 13.4 (Lakers/Celtics)
2007 = 9.2 (Cavs/Spurs)
2006 = 11.5 (Heat/Mavs)
2005 = 10.6 (Spurs/Pistons)
2004 = 15.4 (Lakers/Pistons)
2003 = 9.6 (Spurs/Nets)
2002 = 15.9 (Lakers/Nets)
2001 = 18.6 (Lakers/76ers)
2000 = 10.6 (Lakers/Pacers)

[ArchBanana]

I think it's everything cited itt, plus cord cutting, plus some whack officiating this postseason. I still think cord cutting is the biggest factor, but I have no doubt that the political mess and double standards (bitch ass white boy) are turning some people off. Same goes for all the other factors cited: pandemic, China hypocrisy, LeBron fatigue, weird time of year, perceived mismatch, no fans in the stadiums, etc..

I don't disagree with the political side or the lack of interest in Lebron again, but I never understood the cord cutting argument. Those people probably watched the other finals to, I doubt they all decided to cut NOW with no change in broadcasting methods when they watched the finals on TV.

[scrabbarista]

I think it's everything cited itt, plus cord cutting, plus some whack officiating this postseason. I still think cord cutting is the biggest factor, but I have no doubt that the political mess and double standards (bitch ass white boy) are turning some people off. Same goes for all the other factors cited: pandemic, China hypocrisy, LeBron fatigue, weird time of year, perceived mismatch, no fans in the stadiums, etc..

I don't disagree with the political side or the lack of interest in Lebron again, but I never understood the cord cutting argument. Those people probably watched the other finals to, I doubt they all decided to cut NOW with no change in broadcasting methods when they watched the finals on TV.

Given the apparent drop across all sporting events, it would seem that the time of year may be the biggest factor. I think there's more going on, though.

[fox2jk]

Fake basketball plus BLM equals more white fans than you think.

[DoctorDunc]

In any business when you neglect the customer they find somewhere else to shop.

[Green89]

Lakers-Celtics would have doubled these ratings.

[wco81]

Wow if the big Laker Nation fan base doesn't deliver ratings in these Finals, maybe the NBA will stop trying to help them so much.

[FreeBoosie]

I’m a long time lakers fan but I can never route for a lebron lead super team especially when they’re destroying their under staffed opponent all while hearing espn commentators suck Lebron’s D. So instead of routing against my lakers and being pissed, I’m taking this finals off. You go to sleep a lot less pissed after watching a travel show or having watched Bob Ross paint a cabin in front of tall mountains lol

[SoulJah]

I’m a long time lakers fan but I can never route for a lebron lead super team especially when they’re destroying their under staffed opponent all while hearing espn commentators suck Lebron’s D. So instead of routing against my lakers and being pissed, I’m taking this finals off. You go to sleep a lot less pissed after watching a travel show or having watched Bob Ross paint a cabin in front of tall mountains lol

That. People just take NBA as a WWE set up for a dramatic ending to the COVID hit season. Kobe's team wins the championship after he passes away and Lebron does it, what a storyline. People just don't give a crap anymore. Even when national channels act like they are local fanboys of Lakers and Lebrons, people lose interest because everything seems so planned out.

[BigHustle]

I’m a long time lakers fan but I can never route for a lebron lead super team especially when they’re destroying their under staffed opponent all while hearing espn commentators suck Lebron’s D. So instead of routing against my lakers and being pissed, I’m taking this finals off. You go to sleep a lot less pissed after watching a travel show or having watched Bob Ross paint a cabin in front of tall mountains lol

That. People just take NBA as a WWE set up for a dramatic ending to the COVID hit season. Kobe's team wins the championship after he passes away and Lebron does it, what a storyline. People just don't give a crap anymore. Even when national channels act like they are local fanboys of Lakers and Lebrons, people lose interest because everything seems so planned out.

I didn’t even know there was a game.