Recent sports TV ratings news, including strong numbers for Bulls/Heat on ABC, double-digit increases for the NBA on TNT, and a seven-year ratings high for the Sixers on CSN Philadelphia.
- Sixers Hit Seven-Year High on CSN Philadelphia: Monday’s Lakers/Sixers NBA regular season game drew a 5.1 rating on Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, the highest for a Sixers game on the network since March of 2005. So far this season, Sixers games have averaged a 2.8 rating on CSN Philadelphia, up 77% from last year. (Comcast)
- Despite Decline, Bulls/Heat Earns ABC’s Third-Best Non Christmas Audience: The January 29 Bulls/Heat NBA regular season game earned a 3.5 final rating and 5.699 million viewers on ABC, down 19% in ratings and viewership from last year (BOS/LAL: 4.3, 7.003M), but flat in ratings and up 1% in viewership from 2010 (LAL/BOS: 3.5, 5.655M). The game ranks as the third-most viewed non-Christmas NBA telecast on ABC since the network acquired rights to the league in 2002 (141 telecasts). (Media Life Magazine)
- NBA on TNT Still Trending Above Last Year’s Numbers: Through Thursday, NBA regular season games have averaged a 1.8 U.S. rating and 2.839 million viewers on TNT (seventeen telecasts), up 20% in ratings and viewership from last season (1.5, 2.359M, 34 telecasts), and up 50% and 61%, respectively, from the 2009-10 season (1.2, 1.769M, 31 telecasts). Keep in mind the 2011-12* NBA season began on Christmas Day due to the owners’ lockout. Versus the comparable time period last year (December 30-February 3), this year’s ratings and viewership are up 29% and 36%, respectively. (Turner Sports)
