76ers local TV ratings up 45 percent this season
For as much as Philadelphia sports fans love to hate the 76ers' tanking, they might have to admit that they're still paying attention.
Updated Tuesday, February 9: Comcast provided me with its own set of numbers that are slightly different from SportsBusiness Journal's. They say that through Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Clippers, 76ers broadcasts on Comcast SportsNet and The Comcast Network are averaging a 1.0 per-game rating - a 66 percent increase over the similar point in time last season. One local ratings point translates to 29,179 households.
For as much as Philadelphia sports fans love to hate the 76ers' tanking, they might have to admit that they're still paying attention.
Local ratings for television broadcasts of 76ers games on Comcast SportsNet and The Comcast Network are up 45 percent this season, according to data compiled by the Sports Business Journal.
SBJ's data included games played through late January.
The 76ers' ratings increase is the third-biggest increase of any NBA team this season. It's even bigger than the increase enjoyed by the New York Knicks, who've commanded Gotham's media spotlight thanks to the exploits of rookie Kristaps Porzingis. Their 31 percent rise is the fifth-biggest in the league this season. LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers come in at No. 4 with a 36 percent increase.
The 76ers' average per-game rating isn't great - 1.07, the league's fifth-lowest. That translates to around 31,000 viewers per game. Among the teams ranked below them are the Washington Wizards, whose 0.96 rating is down 34 percent from last season - the NBA's biggest ratings drop. The Brooklyn Nets have the league's lowest per-game rating, averaging a 0.47.
Last season, the 76ers averaged 22,000 viewers per game.
Chris Heck, the 76ers' chief revenue officer, sees the rise in viewership as proof that while the team's critics demand short-term fixes, the core fan base is much more willing to be patient.
He also gave a hint that the long-term "Trust the Process" ideal might not be required for much longer.
"They know when they see a young team coming together that there is something special going on, and they know that the time is soon," Heck said. "We feel the energy and excitement building when we speak with them. Our fans are savvy [and] they're responding in ways now that the rest of the industry can see."
Not surprisingly, the Golden State Warriors have the best overall numbers right now. Led by superstar Steph Curry, the reigning NBA champions have seen a 120 percent increase in ratings this season.
Golden State's per-game average audience of 209,000 viewers is also the league's highest. The Knicks come in second with an average audience of 160,000 viewers, and the Cavaliers are third with 141,000. The bottom three are New Orleans (7,000), Charlotte (12,000) and Denver (15,000).