Is MLB officially bigger than the NBA in the US now?

[The Hick]

Game one of Lakers vs Heat 7.4 million viewers on ABC

Game one of Dodgers vs Rays 9.2 million viewers on FOX

Is the NBA back to being America's 3rd favorite sport again?

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Hasn't this always been the case? People are just bullish on the NBA being more lucrative since it has a younger (and therefore more susceptible to advertising) demographic. I think in flat out ratings/revenue MLB has typically been higher.

[CelticBaller]

MLB has been bigger for the longest lol. The only problem with MLB is the amount of games they play are not enough to capture daily tv ratings. Decrease the amount of games and the ratings will be better

[STATUTORY]

baseball has always been bigger if you look at total revenue, it's just more of a regional sport than a national one so u don't hear it discussed on ESPN ad nauseum

people seem to equate airtime on sports media shows with actual popularity of sport. that's a mistake. ESPN talks about NBA non-stop not because of how popular NBA is, but because ESPN is financially invested in the league