The NFL draft moved to prime-time television for the first time this year, and it looks like the results are a success. ESPN spokesman Bill Hofheimer indicated the first round of the draft was watched by 5.4 percent of U.S. households in the top 56 television markets, which is a 26 percent increase over the 4.3 rating for the first round a year ago.
“Competing with the draft for prime-time sports coverage was the NBA playoffs on TNT, featuring exciting upsets like the Chicago Bulls beating the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-106 and the Oklahoma City Thunder topping the Los Angeles Lakers 101-96. Still, preliminary indications are that the NFL draft did better in the ratings. Very easily topped NBA playoff games,” noted Hofheimer.
While there were no big game trailer premieres this year like in years past at the draft, these ratings imply that prime demographics for gaming are still tuning in, perhaps more than ever. EA or Activision (or someone else) might want to look into buying an ad spot for one of their premiere franchises next year.
Source: Bloomberg
