After decent debut, Big3 basketball viewership on FS1 down, but still better than last year

Big3 basketball has been providing FS1 with some original programming on Monday nights, but after a debut on June 26 that averaged 400,00 viewers, the subsequent programs have not come close to matching the premiere.

Whether it’s the one-day delay or the games aren’t resonating with viewers, the numbers have dropped. After the premiere in Brooklyn, Week 2 from Charlotte, NC fell 41% to just 235,000 viewers.

And on July 10, Big 3 in Oklahoma City suffered its worst viewership-to-date down to 129,000, but that was opposite the MLB Home Run Derby on ESPN which had its best ratings since 2009.

For July 17 from Philadelphia, the delayed program averaged 148,000 viewers and this past Monday, Sports TV Ratings noted that the show from Chicago did go up to 173,000 viewers, but still down from the debut.

The silver lining is that FS1 is seeing higher viewing numbers on Mondays as compared to a year ago. Through the first four weeks, FS1 had a 128% increase in viewership with Big3. Last year, FS1 aired UFC programming, Speak for Yourself re-airs and poker averaging 100,000 viewers so with some original programming, the network is still on top by airing basketball.

Through five weeks, FS1 is averaging 217,000 viewers with the Big3. For a comparison, the Big East Tournament on FS1 saw an average of 212,000 viewers.

The fact that the last two weeks have increased from the nadir of 129,000 viewers may show that the viewership is leveling off, but next week in Dallas will tell us if Big3 is on an upward trend after a precipitous fall.

[Sports Business Daily]