Knicks Opener Draws Best RSN Audience Since 2013
MSG Networks' first Knicks telecast of the season posted its strongest RSN opener audience in over a decade.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Basketball
The Knicks' season-opening game against the Magic on MSG Networks, which aired October 25, drew the best Knicks RSN opener audience since the 2013-14 season. The game was also the network's best Knicks audience of any kind since December 16, 2017, and the first three MSG Networks Knicks games rank as the RSN's three most-streamed Knicks regular-season games.
Why it matters
The ratings signal strong fan engagement with the Knicks as the season begins and show that streaming interest in MSG Networks broadcasts remains high. The results come as streaming of these games has moved to the DAZN app in the offseason.
The Knicks-Magic telecast on October 25 posted the best RSN opener audience since 2013-14, measured against prior Knicks RSN openers. Exact viewer totals and streaming figures for the three most-streamed games were not reported in the source data.
The players
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden is the New York arena that serves as the home venue of the Knicks and the broadcast hub associated with MSG Networks.
MSG Networks
MSG Networks is the regional sports network that carries New York Knicks games and has a long history of televising the team's home contests.
The details
MSG Networks televised the Knicks' season opener against the Magic, the first of the network's Knicks telecasts this season. Streaming of MSG Networks Knicks games moved to the DAZN app in the offseason, and the first three games have been the network's most-streamed Knicks regular-season contests.
Timeline
2013-14 season: the last time a Knicks RSN opener drew a larger audience.
December 16, 2017: the last time a MSG Networks Knicks game drew a larger audience of any kind.
October 25: the Knicks' first MSG Networks telecast of the season.
Season Trajectory
The Knicks' strong opening audience fits a broader pattern in which regional sports networks are shifting distribution toward streaming apps like DAZN. Early streaming gains give MSG Networks a measurable benchmark as it adapts its Knicks coverage to direct-to-consumer viewing.
Viewers who follow the Knicks now have a clear view of which MSG Networks games have drawn the most streaming interest so far this season. Fans watching through the DAZN app can use these early numbers to gauge which games are likely to be in highest demand.
The takeaway
Strong early ratings suggest that Knicks fans are following the team closely even as its broadcasts move to new platforms. Watch the next few MSG Networks telecasts to see whether streaming interest holds.
Further reading
For more on the team, see our Basketball coverage of New York City's NBA games.
