NBA Sees Record Opening-Month Viewership and Social Media Engagement in 15 Years

The NBA is off to an incredible start this season, with more than 60 million viewers tuning in to watch games on NBC/Peacock, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video in just the first month. This impressive number marks the highest opening total in 15 years, showcasing the league’s enduring popularity.

It’s worth noting that this total doesn’t include the 2011-12 season, which kicked off on Christmas Day and always draws a big viewership. Still, this is a great sign for the league, especially considering the recent 11-year, $76 billion deal with broadcast partners.

NBA content has been a hit on social media too, racking up over 30 billion views across various platforms. Sales of NBA merchandise on NBAStore.com are up more than 20%, thanks in part to the emergence of “next generation stars” like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Luka Doncic.

NBA League Pass subscriptions have increased by 10%, with fans spending 8% more time watching games on the platform. And it’s not just online where the NBA is thriving – in-arena attendance is on par with last season, which boasted about 97% capacity leaguewide. Ten teams have already sold out every home game this season, including the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Golden State Warriors.

The league is clearly having a standout season so far, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store next!