Facing an Academy Awards telecast that attracted nearly 40 million viewers, it is no surprise that Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game was down double-digits from last year. The 2012 NBA All-Star Game drew a 4.4 U.S. rating and 7.070 million viewers on TNT Sunday night, down 15% in ratings and 22% in viewership from last year (5.2, 9.093M), but up 16% and 3%, respectively, from 2010 (3.8, 6.846M). The game ranks as the fifth-lowest rated NBA All-Star Game since at least 1989 and is tied as the fourth-least viewed. This year’s All-Star Game faced competition from the Academy Awards on ABC, which earned 39.341 million viewers — an audience exceeded by only five NFL playoff games. Of note, eight of the ten NBA All-Star Game telecasts on TNT have suffered a decline in ratings and viewership compared to the previous year. On Saturday, NBA All-Star Saturday Night drew a 3.6 U.S. rating and 6.237 million viewers, down 18% in ratings and 23% in viewership from last year (4.4, 8.090M), but up 16% and 15%, respectively, from 2010 (3.1, 5.441M). Despite the decline, the telecast ranks as the third-most viewed edition of NBA All-Star Saturday Night, behind only last year and 2009 (6.554M), reported by Sports Media Watch.