ESPN’s coverage of the 2008-09 NBA regular season demonstrated impressive audience growth across multimedia platforms, including a 16 percent increase in viewership on ABC (an average of 3,684,000 viewers for 18 broadcasts this season; 3,175,000 for 19 broadcasts last year).   The 2008-09 regular season is the most-viewed on ABC in the previous six years. ABC’s average of 2,688,000 households this season marked a 10 percent improvement when compared to 2,451,000 last year.  The 2.3 average rating in 2008-09 was an increase of five percent over a 2.2 rating in 2007-08. 

Additionally, the network enjoyed double-digit growth in all major demos:

• Up 12 percent among men 18-49;
• Up 11 percent among men 18-34;
• Up 11 percent among men 25-54;

• Up 17 percent among people 18-34;
• Up 17 percent among people 18-49;
• Up 15 percent among people 25-54.

ESPN averaged 1,680,000 viewers for 71 regular-season telecasts to post the network’s most-viewed NBA season ever, an increase of 14 percent compared to 1,468,000 viewers for 70 telecasts in 2007-08. The corresponding average of 1,299,000 households were an improvement of eight percent over 1,206,000 last season.  This year’s 1.3 average rating was consistent with last season. 

ESPN telecasts also delivered significant growth across all major demos:

• Up nine percent among men 25-54;
• Up eight percent among men 18-49;
• Up seven percent among men 18-34;

• Up 14 percent among people 25-54;
• Up 13 percent among people 18-49;
• Up 11 percent among people 18-34;

ESPN’s digital media platforms also posted considerable audience totals:

• ESPN.com logged 1.3 billion total page views, more than 279 million total visits, and over 113 million views of NBA-related video;
• The ESPN mobile Web site generated over 737 million total page views and more than 108 million total visits;
• On ESPN360.com, the total hours of NBA games viewed grew 64 percent compared to 2007-08, and average time spent viewing the games this season was 31 minutes per stream.

Source: ESPN

 OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK

• MLBAM Releases "World Series 2009" for iPhone and iPod Touch - The Biz of Baseball
• Costas Set for MLB Broadcast Return at Yankee Stadium Opener - The Biz of Baseball
• MLB Reaches Four Major Sponsorship Deals - The Biz of Baseball
• Could Tom Hicks Be Forced to Sell the Texas Rangers? - The Biz of Baseball
• Sale of the Cubs Should Be Completed by End of May - The Biz of Baseball
• The Biz of Baseball Organizational Report - The Boston Red Sox - The Biz of Baseball
• Rays Players, Coaches, Staff Presented with ALCS Rings - The Biz of Baseball
• David Wells on Broadcasting: "If I was to imitate anyone it would be Ernie Harwell." - The Biz of Baseball
• YES Network Reaches National Distribution Agreement Through Verizon FiOS for Hi-Def - The Biz of Baseball
• Baseball Luminaries Comment on the Passing of Harry Kalas - The Biz of Baseball
• Redefining "Commitment" When It Comes to Ticket Prices - The Biz of Baseball
• Dodgers Lower Price of Beer, Soda and Other Concessions - The Biz of Baseball
• Eagles Land Jason Peters - The Biz of Football
• John Madden Retires From Broadcasting - The Biz of Football
• Maurice Jones-Drew Signs Extension - The Biz of Football
• Sprint To Stream NFL Draft to TV-Enabled Phones - The Biz of Football
• Round-Up: Harrison, Thomas, and Leftwich Reach Deals - The Biz of Football
• DISH Network Reaches Settlement to Carry NFL Network - The Biz of Football
• NHL GameCenter LIVE to Stream Up to 24 Stanley Cup Playoff Games in the U.S. - The Biz of Hockey
• Isle Be Damned: A Tale of Two Cities (A ‘Dickens’ of a story) - The Biz of Hockey
• NHL Offers GameCenter LIVE for $19.95 per Day - The Biz of Hockey