NBA Viewership and Engagement Highlights
The NBA has announced that over 60 million viewers tuned into national games during the first month of the regular season, marking the league’s strongest opening viewership in 15 years. This impressive figure does not include the exceptional 2011-12 season, which began on Christmas Day—a day renowned for generating high viewership numbers. This season’s success occurs under the framework of an extensive 11-year broadcasting contract worth $76 billion, emphasizing the potential growth for the league.
Social Media and Merchandise Growth
In addition to television viewership, the NBA reported that their content has accrued over 30 billion views across various social media platforms, a historic achievement for this point in the season. Merchandise sales have also surged, with NBAStore.com reporting a significant increase of more than 20%—an upswing attributed to emerging talents such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Victor Wembanyama, among others.
League Pass and Attendance Trends
The popularity extends to the NBA League Pass, which has experienced a 10% rise in subscriptions. Viewership time on the platform has jumped 8% as well.
Attending games in person has seen continued enthusiasm, with current attendance figures mirroring the previous season’s, which saw one of the highest turnout rates in NBA history at approximately 97% capacity across all arenas. Notably, 10 franchises have sold out every home game thus far this season, including the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, and New York Knicks. Additionally, teams like the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets report attendance increases of nearly 10% compared to last season.
Overall, the NBA is exhibiting promising trends as it progresses deeper into the current season.
