At a Glance
- More than 47 million U.S. viewers tuned in to the NBA’s five-game Christmas Day slate, a 45% jump from last year.
- The average audience per game rose to 5.5 million, up 4% year over year.
- The Cleveland-New York showdown set a new noon-time record with 6.4 million viewers.
- Why it matters: It marks the biggest holiday basketball broadcast in 15 years, showing the sport’s growing holiday appeal.
On Christmas Day, the NBA drew record television audiences, surpassing all holiday broadcasts in the last decade. More than 47 million viewers watched at least one of the five games, and the league’s social-media presence exploded to 1.6 billion views. The numbers reflect a surge in fan engagement and signal the sport’s continued growth.
Viewership Highlights
The league’s five-game slate on ABC and ESPN delivered the highest Christmas Day viewership in 15 years. Average viewers climbed to 5.5 million, a 4% increase from the previous year.
The Cleveland-New York game, which began at noon Eastern, averaged 6.4 million viewers, the most for a Christmas game ever.
- Noon: Cleveland-New York – most-watched Christmas game ever.
- 2:30 p.m.: San Antonio-Oklahoma City – most-watched in that slot since 2017.
- 5 p.m.: Dallas-Golden State – most-watched in that slot since 2019.
Social Media Impact
The NBA also topped social-media engagement on Christmas, with 1.6 billion views across its content, a 23% rise from the previous year, according to Videocites. Nielsen supplied the ratings data that underscored the on-screen success.
Key Takeaways
- 47 million viewers marked the biggest Christmas Day broadcast in 15 years.
- Average game viewership rose to 5.5 million, up 4% from 2023.
- Social-media reach hit 1.6 billion views, a 23% increase.
These figures underscore the NBA’s dominant presence on the holiday and its expanding reach across both television and digital platforms.
By Julia N. Fairmont | News Of Austin
