Local viewership up for Nets series, national low for Wizards opener
The Hawks’ quarterfinal playoff series victory over the Nets had an increased television viewership of 60 percent over last season in the Atlanta market, the team announced Monday. The 4-2 series win over the Nets generated a 6.6 combined rating for local and national telecasts in the Atlanta market, up considerably from last season’s 4-3 quarterfinal series loss to the Pacers.
Coverage of the Hawks-Nets series on ESPN and TNT had a 5.1 rating, up from 3.2 last season, in the Atlanta market. The Game 1 win over the Nets had a 7.2 rating in Atlanta and a 9.7 combined rating, more than double the Hawks’ highest rated playoff game last season.
Local broadcasts on SportSouth and Fox Sports South had a total viewership increase of 34 percent over last season.
The viewership numbers for Game 1 of the Hawks-Wizards semifinal series were not good. Not at all. The series opener on ABC Sunday afternoon drew a 2.6 overnight rating. According to Sports Media Watch, it’s the lowest rating for a playoff game on ABC since the network resumed televising games in 2002. The previous low was 2.7 in four other games, including Game 7 of the Hawks-Bucks series in 2010.
About the Author
Chris Vivlamore is the sports editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has served as reporter and editor at the AJC since 2003.
