Like fellow NBA partner TNT, ESPN has experienced double-digit increases in both ratings and viewership for coverage of the NBA Playoffs.
Through last Saturday, ESPN has averaged a 2.3 U.S. rating and 3.582 million viewers for coverage of the 2011 NBA Playoffs, up 21% in ratings and 22% in viewership from last year (1.9, 2.914M).
On April 22, the network earned a 2.8 U.S. rating and 4.578 million viewers for Game 3 of the Lakers/Hornets series, up 47% in ratings and 62% in viewership from last year (DAL/SA G3: 1.9, 2.820M).
The game ranks as the most-viewed playoff game on ESPN this season (does not include Friday’s Spurs/Grizzlies Game 6).
Earlier in the night, the Celtics’ blowout Game 3 win over the Knicks drew a 2.2 and 3.411 million viewers, up 38% and 43%, respectively, from last year’s game (BOS/MIA G3: 1.6, 2.386M). Game 3 was easily the least-viewed of the Celtics/Knicks series.
Over on ESPN2, Magic/Hawks Game 3 drew a 0.9 and 1.342 million viewers, flat in ratings and down 8% in viewership from last year’s game on the network (DEN/UTA G3: 0.9, 1.461M), which aired in a later timeslot.
The next night, Game 3 between the Spurs and Grizzlies drew a 2.0 and 3.131 million viewers, up 54% in ratings and 61% in viewership from last year (ATL/MIL G3: 1.3, 1.945M), and up 67% and 72%, respectively, from 2009 (ATL/MIA G3: 1.2, 1.819M, TNT).
In the nightcap, Thunder/Nuggets Game 3 drew a 2.4 and 3.664 million viewers, down 11% in ratings and 12% in viewership from last year (LAL/OKC G4: 2.7, 4.163M), but up 9% and 11%, respectively, from 2009 (LAL/UTA: 2.2, 3.299M).
For complete first round NBA Playoff ratings on TNT, click here.
Ratings/Viewership For First Round NBA Playoff Games on ESPN
| Date | Time | Game | # | Net | Rtg | vs. ’10 | Viewers | vs. ’10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., 4/16/11 | 1:00 PM | IND 99, CHI 104 |
1
|
ESPN |
2.4
|
no game
|
3,567
|
no game
|
| 7:00 PM | ATL 103, ORL 93 |
1
|
ESPN |
2.1
|
-16%
|
3,328
|
-13%
|
|
| 9:30 PM | POR 81, DAL 89 |
1
|
ESPN |
2.1
|
11%
|
3,456
|
18%
|
|
| Fri., 4/22/11 | 7:00 PM | BOS 113, NY 96 |
3
|
ESPN |
2.2
|
38%
|
3,411
|
43%
|
| 8:00 PM | ORL 84, ATL 88 |
3
|
ESPN2 |
0.9
|
even
|
1,342
|
-8%
|
|
| 9:30 PM | LAL 100, NO 86 |
3
|
ESPN |
2.8
|
47%
|
4,578
|
62%
|
|
| Sat., 4/23/11 | 7:30 PM | SA 88, MEM 91 |
3
|
ESPN |
2.0
|
54%
|
3,131
|
61%
|
| 10:00 PM | OKC 97, DEN 94 |
4
|
ESPN |
2.4
|
-11%
|
3,664
|
-12%
|
(Numbers from ESPN; additional information from Son of the Bronx 1, 2)
