The 2011 NBA Playoffs got off to a strong start on ESPN, led by Game 1 of the Pacers/Bulls series.
ESPN drew a 2.4 U.S. rating and 3.567 million viewers for the Bulls’ win over the Pacers Saturday afternoon, up 20% in ratings and 23% in viewership from 2009 (CHI/BOS G1: 2.0, 2.893M), and up 26% and 28%, respectively, from 2008 (WSH/CLE G1: 1.9, 2.798M).
There was no game in the comparable timeslot (1 PM ET) last year. The first game of last year’s tripleheader (MIL/ATL G1: 5:30 PM ET) drew a 1.5 and 2.160 million viewers.
Pacers/Bulls Game 1 ranks as ESPN’s highest rated opening weekend NBA Playoff game since Rockets/Lakers Game 1 in 2004 (2.7).
Later Saturday, the Hawks’ Game 1 win over the Magic drew a 2.1 and 3.328 million viewers, down 16% in ratings and 13% in viewership from last year (MIA/BOS G1: 2.5, 3.821M), but up 24% and 38%, respectively, from 2009 (DAL/SA G1: 1.7, 2.416M).
Excluding games on ABC (ratings for those telecasts are not yet available), Hawks/Magic was the only playoff game of the weekend to have a decline in ratings or viewership versus last year’s comparable window.
In the nightcap, the Trail Blazers’ Game 1 loss to the Mavericks drew a 2.1 and 3.456 million viewers, up 11% in ratings and 18% in viewership from last year (UTA/DEN G1: 1.9, 2.921M), and flat in ratings and up 12% in viewership from 2009 (HOU/POR G1: 2.1, 3.091M).
(Numbers from Son of the Bronx)
