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In a borderline situation with the All-Star Game, the NBA changed the format again. It finally opted, as many demanded, for a United States versus the rest of the world game. It was not a single game, but a triangular tournament with 12-minute games and a final between the two winners. It was enough to give a boost to a devalued and free-falling product.
It seemed that the new twist had aroused expectations. The audiences confirm this. The All-Star Game had an average of 8.8 million viewers on NBC, Peacock and Telemundo and peaked at almost 10 million (9.8) when the team of older American players defeated the international team.
The NBA All-Star Game had not had more than 6 million viewers since 2022 and this year's figures are the best since 2011. They represent an 87% growth compared to last year's edition.
Interest in the All-Star Game with this new format has undeniably grown, but the comparison with other seasons, however, is misleading: the way audiences are measured in the United States was modified last fall and the figures for any event are now considerably higher.