Neighborhood Watch: Local NBA Ratings Up On Comcast SportsNet

NBA games on Comcast SportsNet’s RSNs are up 20% from the same point last year for the five teams which had games on CSN last year.  The Celtics have shown the largest increase thus far, up 97% on CSN New England, boosted by the trades involving F Kevin Garnett and G Ray Allen. This marks the first year CSN has broadcasted games for the Trail Blazers, with the launch of CSN Northwest, as well as the first year CSN has measured ratings for Kings games on CSN Sacramento. Listed below are season-to-date ratings for each of the seven NBA teams to which CSN has broadcast rights (THE DAILY).

RSN NOTES:  FSN, which has the local telecast rights to 17 of the NBA’s 29 U.S.-based teams, posted an average 12% year-to-year increase in NBA ratings for the month of November. FSN experienced double-digit growth ratings increases across ten of its RSNs such as Phoenix, San Antonio, Orlando and Detroit.  On MSG, the Knicks are averaging a 1.15 HH rating through 15 games, down 15.4% from a 1.36 rating through the same number of games last year, which did not include any Sunday afternoon telecasts. The Knicks have had three Sunday afternoon home games to date this season. On the demographic end, MSG is seeing increases in M18-34 (up 10%), A18-24 (up 15%) and Women 18-34 (up 30%). Through December 3 on YES, Nets games are averaging a 0.5 HH rating, which is down from a 0.7 rating through the same period last year. On Altitude, the Nuggets are averaging a 2.4 HH rating year-to-date, up 9% from the same point last year, when the team had not yet acquired G Allen Iverson.