Ratings Roundup: Dallas Mavericks Basketball on Fox Sports Southwest Spikes for Largest Year-Over-Year Increase in the NBA Regular Season By Kristian Hernandez, Assistant Editor
Wednesday, April 24, 2019 - 7:45 am
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Ratings roundup is a rundown of rating news from the past week and is derived from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week's edition, the Dallas Mavericks earn the largest regional TV ratings spike in the regular season, the 2019 NBA Playoffs are still submitting subpar numbers, the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are stumbling on the nationally broadcasted games on NBC, Fox Sports' digital initiative has garnered 21 straight months of growth, ESPN's First Take received a bump, and Univision's coverage of Liga MX continues its run of success.
Dallas Mavericks Lead Regional TV Numbers for 2018-2019 NBA Regular Season
The Mavericks' season ended April 10, and TV numbers now are trickling in that reflect a more successful season off the court than the team's 33-49 on-court record indicates (via SportDay).
According to Nielsen, the Mavericks enjoyed the highest regional TV ratings surge in the NBA this season. Dallas' 86% increases in viewership and ratings from last season to this season on Fox Sports Southwest surpassed No. 2 Denver's 77% increases.
The average rating of Mavericks games on FSSW increased from 0.7 to 1.3. The numbers reflect the excitement generated by the addition of rookie Luka Doncic, as well as late-season interest in the final games of Dirk Nowitzki's illustrious 21-season career.
Mavericks' games were among the most highly watched in the NBA among international viewers with the help of Doncic and Nowitzki.
NBA League Pass international subscriptions were up 21% this season, with Denver (41%) and Dallas (34%) leading the way in year-over-year unique viewer growth.
Serbia (395%) and Slovenia (186%) led the way in unique viewer growth.
In Nowitzki's native country, Germany, League Pass international unique viewership grew by 11%.
NBA Playoffs Underperform in the Ratings Game
The 2019 NBA Playoffs First Round has not lived up to the hype in terms of ratings. According to SportsMediaWatch, 27 of 32 NBA playoff windows have posted a decline in ratings and/or viewership. It includes 23 games that have declined double-digits in one or both measures, and 24 that have hit multi-year lows.
Sunday's Warriors-Clippers Game 4 was one of the few exceptions, scoring a 3.8 rating and 6.29 million viewers on ABC - up 9% in ratings and 15% in viewership from last year (Warriors-Spurs: 3.5, 5.46M), but down a tick and 1% respectively from 2017 (Rockets-Thunder: 3.9, 6.37M).
Earlier in the day, Celtics-Pacers Game 4 had a 2.4 and 3.84 million on ABC - down a tick in ratings but up 4% in viewership from last year (Celtics-Bucks: 2.5, 3.70M), and down 17% and 14% respectively from 2017 (Cavaliers-Pacers: 2.9, 4.48M).
The rest of the night wasn't great either. Blazers-Thunder Game 4 scored a 2.3 and 3.74 million on TNT Sunday night - playoff-highs on cable, but down 38% in ratings and viewership from last year (Cavaliers-Pacers: 3.7, 6.07M) and down a tick and 5% respectively from 2017 (Clippers-Jazz: 2.4, 3.96M). Raptors-Magic had a 1.6 (-20%) and 2.69 million (-15%) earlier in the night.
NBC National Broadcasts Down for NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
According to SportsMediaWatch, the NBC showings of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are missing the mark this year. Sunday's Bruins-Maple Leafs first-round Stanley Cup playoff Game 6 earned a 1.0 rating and 1.81 million viewers on NBC, down 29% in ratings and 23% in viewership from last year (Penguins-Flyers: 1.4, 2.34M). Compared to Senators-Bruins in 2017, ratings fell a tick but viewership increased 5% from 1.72 million.
On Saturday, Hurricanes-Capitals Game 5 had a 0.9 and 1.56 million - down 18% in ratings and viewership from last year (Maple Leafs-Bruins: 1.1, 1.89M) and down 31% and 24% respectively from 2017 (Canadiens-Rangers: 1.3, 2.06M). The Capitals' blowout win ranks as the least-watched NHL playoff game on primetime broadcast television.
Lastly on NBC, Stars-Predators Game 5 had a 0.8 (-11%) and 1.16 million (-20%) earlier Saturday. Through two weeks, all six playoff games on NBC have declined.
On cable, the ratings have been improving. On Sunday night, Sharks-Golden Knights Game 6 had a 0.7 rating and 1.30 million viewers - up 47% in ratings and 59% in viewership from last year (Predators-Avalanche: 0.47, 816K) and up 5% and 15% respectively from 2017 (Capitals-Maple Leafs: 0.7, 1.13M). On Monday night, Capitals-Hurricanes Game 6 scored 992,000 viewers on NBCSN ( 18%) and Predators-Stars Game 6 568,000 on CNBC ( 19%). NBCSN also drew a 0.34 and 577,000 for Jets-Blues Game 6 on Saturday night; there was no comparable window a year ago.
Fox Sports Digital Catches Ratings Fire
In March, highlighted by strength in NASCAR and college basketball, Fox Sports digital properties delivered the brand's 21st consecutive month of year-over-year growth in both video views ( 14%) and consumption ( 18%) across authenticated live streaming and partner social platforms. During the 21-month window, the company has recorded an average year-over-year increase of 81 million video views each month. Key March notes include:
Time-spent viewing per video (short-form/non-streaming) is up 19%, highlighting the brand's focus on premium, live events-driven content
Fox Sports' YouTube ( 26%), Twitter ( 33%) and Instagram ( 87%) platforms are up double digits in video view growth
Fox Sports' March streaming is up 34% YoY in video views on the Fox Sports app, Fox Now and FOXSports.com:
NASCAR continued to be the most-streamed sport across Fox Sports platforms, accounting for 26% of total views, and deliv
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Ratings Roundup: Dallas Mavericks Basketball on Fox Sports Southwest Spikes for Largest Year-Over-Year Increase in the NBA Regular Season By Kristian Hernandez, Assistant Editor 
