Ratings and viewership for the 2011 NBA Playoffs on TNT are up by over a third, with Sunday’s Lakers/Hornets game earning the network’s top audience of the postseason.
Through 17 games, TNT has averaged a 2.7 U.S. rating and 4.179 million viewers for coverage of the 2011 NBA Playoffs, up 35% in ratings and 37% in viewership from the same point last year (2.0, 3.048M).
On Sunday, Game 4 of the Lakers/Hornets series scored a 3.9 U.S. rating and 6.281 million viewers on TNT, up 86% in ratings and 99% in viewership from last year (DEN/UTA G4: 2.1, 3.156M), and up 86% and 105%, respectively, from 2009 (POR/HOU G4: 2.1, 3.062M).
The Hornets’ win ranks as the second-most viewed first round NBA Playoff game ever on cable, behind only Bulls/Celtics Game 7 in 2009 (6.987M). The previous second-ranked game was Knicks/Celtics Game 1 earlier this month (5.989M).
The Lakers/Hornets series accounts for two of the five largest first round audiences ever on cable. Game 2 last Wednesday night drew a 3.4 and 5.352 million viewers, tying Celtics/Bulls Game 6 in 2009 as the fourth-most viewed first round game on cable.
The big numbers are not isolated to that series, however.
In the early Sunday night game, Game 4 between the Magic and Hawks scored a 2.7 U.S. rating and 4.506 million viewers, up 29% in ratings and 39% in viewership from last year (DAL/SA G4: 2.1, 3.252M), and up 80% and 101%, respectively, from 2009 (ORL/PHI G4: 1.5, 2.243M).
Monday’s NBA Playoff Ratings: Spurs/Grizzlies Game 4 earned a 2.2 U.S. rating and 3.354 million viewers on TNT, up 5% in ratings and 9% in viewership from last year (ORL/CHA G4: 2.1, 3.068M), and up 16% and 27%, respectively, from 2009 (ATL/MIA G4: 1.9, 2.639M).
In the nightcap, the Nuggets’ Game 4 win over the Thunder earned a 2.3 and 3.539 million viewers, up 21% in ratings and 30% in viewership from last year (POR/PHX G5: 1.9, 2.716M), but down 4% and 2%, respectively, from 2009 (UTA/LAL G5: 2.4, 3.627M).
(Numbers from Turner Sports; additional information from TV By The Numbers 1, 2)
