ESPN's regular-season NBA games averaging 2.6 million viewers through Christmas, 2nd-ever best start

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BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — ESPN has had one of its most-viewed starts to the NBA regular season since it started to carry games in 2002.

According to the network and Nielsen, ESPN averaged 2.6 million viewers in its first 21 games through Christmas, a 35% increase from last season and the second most-watched in a full season. The numbers for this season only trail 2010-11.

Viewership is up 47% among women and 37% among Hispanic audiences. This is the first year of the NBA's 11-year media rights deal with ESPN, NBC and Prime Video.

ESPN's NBA studio shows have also experienced increased viewership. “Inside the NBA” is averaging 1.2 million in its first season on ESPN, up 135% compared to last year's regular-season average on TNT. The Christmas Day edition averaged 5.1 million, the show's most-watched regular season audience.

The Dec. 25 edition was also on ABC with the crew on for all five games throughout the day and prime time.

“NBA Today,” ESPN's weekday studio show, is averaging 361,000, a 26% increase from this time last year.

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