Headed Down Court: ESPN And TNT NBA Ratings Down So Far

TNT’s NBA coverage is down 12% in total viewers so far this season, and ESPN has slipped 7%, according to John Dempsey of DAILY VARIETY. TNT is down 15% in men 18-49, “the demographic targeted by the net,” and has fallen 11% in men 18-34. ESPN is down 14% among men 18-49 and 6% in men 18-34. Sports Business Group President David Carter said the November 19 Pacers-Pistons brawl “is a symbol of the perception that the league is headed in the wrong direction. It’s part of the whole in-your-face presentation of players who embrace edginess and arrogance, cover their arms with tattoos and thump their chests after every slam-dunk.” But Dempsey notes ESPN and TNT are “counting on a boost in the numbers as the playoff races start to heat up in January and February” (DAILY VARIETY, 12/23).