The 2011 NBA Playoffs set an all-time cable viewership record on TNT.
TNT averaged a 3.5 U.S. rating and 5.534 million viewers for 40 NBA playoff telecasts, up 25% in ratings and 29% in viewership from last year (2.8, 4.246M), up 13% and 18%, respectively, from 2009 (3.1, 4.708M), and the highest rated and most-viewed postseason in cable television history.
The previous record was set by the aforementioned 2009 NBA Playoffs.
In particular, TNT aired the most-viewed first round ever on cable (4.179M), the most-viewed second round ever on cable (6.001M), and the most-viewed conference final ever on cable (10.413M).
Of the 36 games on TNT that can be compared to last year, 29 had increases in ratings (25 by double-digits) and 32 had increases in viewership (29 by double-digits).
The network’s most-viewed game of the playoffs was Heat/Bulls Game 1 (11.109M), and the highest rated was Bulls/Heat Game 3 (6.4). Outside of the Conference Finals, the network’s highest rated, most-viewed game was Heat/Celtics Game 4 (4.7, 7.658M).
The lowest rated, least-viewed game was Grizzlies/Spurs Game 1, which drew a 2.0 and 2.836 million viewers. Not a single playoff game on TNT drew less than a 2.0 U.S. rating, compared to eight such games last year.
Viewership increased by double-digits in all key adult and male demographics compared to both last year and 2009. Among adults 18-49, TNT averaged 3.165 million viewers, up 33% from last year (2.371M) and up 18% from 2009 (2.678M). The biggest increase was among adults 18-34, as TNT averaged 1.803 million viewers in the demo — up 37% from last year (1.312M) and up 24% from 2009 (1.453M).
During the playoffs, TNT was the top television network in primetime (broadcast or cable) fifteen times among men 18-34 and ten times among men 18-49. The network also won the night five times among adults 18-34 and twice among adults 18-49.
For some perspective, TBS averaged a 3.6 U.S. rating and 5.627 million viewers for coverage of the 2010 MLB postseason (21 games). Keep in mind that all TBS MLB telecasts were exclusive, while over half of TNT’s NBA games (23 first round telecasts) co-existed in local markets.
Average Ratings/Viewership For NBA Playoffs on TNT Dating Back to 2006
|
Year
|
Net |
Playoffs Overall
|
Conference Finals
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
# of Games
|
Rating
|
Viewers
|
Series
|
Rating
|
Viewers
|
||
| 2011 | TNT |
40
|
3.5
|
5,534
|
MIA 4, CHI 1 |
6.2
|
10,413
|
| 2010 | TNT |
39
|
2.8
|
4,246
|
LAL 4, PHX 2 |
4.8
|
7,854
|
| 2009 | TNT |
43
|
3.1
|
4,708
|
ORL 4, CLE 2 |
5.4
|
8,633
|
| 2008 | TNT |
41
|
2.6
|
3,795
|
LAL 4, SA 1 |
4.2
|
6,307
|
| 2007 | TNT |
43
|
2.3
|
3,324
|
CLE 4, DET 2 |
3.5
|
5,029
|
| 2006 | TNT |
45
|
2.5
|
3,594
|
DAL 4, PHX 2 |
3.8
|
5,509
|
Ratings/Viewership For 2011 NBA Playoffs on TNT
| Date | Time | Game |
#
|
Net |
Rating
|
vs. ’10
|
Viewers
|
vs. ’10
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., 4/17/11 | 1:00 PM | MEM 101, SA 98 |
1
|
TNT |
2.0
|
—
|
2,836
|
—
|
| Sun., 4/17/11 | 7:00 PM | NY 85, BOS 87 |
1
|
TNT |
3.6
|
44%
|
5,989
|
53%
|
| Sun., 4/17/11 | 9:30 PM | DEN 103, OKC 107 |
1
|
TNT |
3.1
|
55%
|
5,038
|
69%
|
| Mon., 4/18/11 | 7:00 PM | PHI 73, MIA 94 |
2
|
TNT |
2.1
|
-19%
|
3,402
|
-13%
|
| Mon., 4/18/11 | 9:30 PM | IND 90, CHI 96 |
2
|
TNT |
3.1
|
48%
|
4,908
|
56%
|
| Tue., 4/19/11 | 7:00 PM | NYK 93, BOS 96 |
2
|
TNT |
3.0
|
58%
|
4,730
|
65%
|
| Tue., 4/19/11 | 9:30 PM | POR 89, DAL 101 |
2
|
TNT |
2.5
|
0%
|
3,846
|
3%
|
| Wed., 4/20/11 | 8:00 PM | DEN 89, OKC 106 |
2
|
TNT |
2.1
|
50%
|
3,292
|
59%
|
| Wed., 4/20/11 | 10:30 PM | NO 78, LAL 87 |
2
|
TNT |
3.4
|
62%
|
5,352
|
75%
|
| Thu., 4/21/11 | 8:00 PM | MIA 100, PHI 94 |
3
|
TNT |
2.6
|
44%
|
3,875
|
40%
|
| Thu., 4/21/11 | 10:30 PM | DAL 92, POR 97 |
3
|
TNT |
2.3
|
-8%
|
3,268
|
-17%
|
| Sat., 4/23/11 | 2:30 PM | CHI 84, IND 89 |
3
|
TNT |
2.2
|
83%
|
3,534
|
111%
|
| Sat., 4/23/11 | 5:00 PM | DAL 82, POR 84 |
4
|
TNT |
2.1
|
24%
|
3,176
|
31%
|
| Sun., 4/24/11 | 7:00 PM | ORL 85, ATL 88 |
4
|
TNT |
2.7
|
29%
|
4,506
|
39%
|
| Sun., 4/24/11 | 9:30 PM | LAL 88, NO 93 |
4
|
TNT |
3.9
|
86%
|
6,281
|
99%
|
| Mon., 4/25/11 | 8:00 PM | SA 86, MEM 104 |
4
|
TNT |
2.2
|
5%
|
3,354
|
9%
|
| Mon., 4/25/11 | 10:44 PM | OKC 101, DEN 104 |
4
|
TNT |
2.3
|
21%
|
3,539
|
30%
|
| Tue., 4/26/11 | 8:00 PM | IND 89, CHI 116 |
5
|
TNT |
2.6
|
-7%
|
4,061
|
-4%
|
| Tue., 4/26/11 | 10:30 PM | NO 90, LAL 106 |
5
|
TNT |
3.6
|
16%
|
5,837
|
25%
|
| Wed., 4/27/11 | 7:00 PM | PHI 91, MIA 97 |
5
|
TNT |
2.4
|
33%
|
3,623
|
43%
|
| Wed., 4/27/11 | 9:30 PM | DEN 97, OKC 100 |
5
|
TNT |
2.9
|
38%
|
4,266
|
39%
|
| Thu., 4/28/11 | 8:00 PM | LAL 98, NO 80 |
6
|
TNT |
2.4
|
0%
|
3,871
|
8%
|
| Thu., 4/28/11 | 10:30 PM | DAL 103, POR 96 |
6
|
TNT |
2.2
|
5%
|
3,400
|
9%
|
| Mon., 5/2/11 | 8:00 PM | ATL 103, CHI 95 |
1
|
TNT |
3.4
|
-3%
|
5,588
|
2%
|
| Mon., 5/2/11 | 10:30 PM | DAL 96, LAL 94 |
1
|
TNT |
4.0
|
48%
|
6,429
|
56%
|
| Tue., 5/3/11 | 7:00 PM | BOS 91, MIA 102 |
2
|
TNT |
3.7
|
95%
|
6,006
|
102%
|
| Tue., 5/3/11 | 9:30 PM | MEM 102, OKC 111 |
2
|
TNT |
3.2
|
7%
|
4,867
|
4%
|
| Wed., 5/4/11 | 8:00 PM | ATL 73, CHI 86 |
2
|
TNT |
3.3
|
22%
|
5,211
|
30%
|
| Wed., 5/4/11 | 10:30 PM | DAL 93, LAL 81 |
2
|
TNT |
4.5
|
—
|
7,036
|
—
|
| Sun., 5/8/11 | 8:00 PM | CHI 88, ATL 100 |
4
|
TNT |
3.8
|
36%
|
6,260
|
37%
|
| Mon., 5/9/11 | 7:00 PM | MIA 98, BOS 90 |
4
|
TNT |
4.7
|
104%
|
7,824
|
130%
|
| Mon., 5/9/11 | 9:30 PM | OKC 133, MEM 123 |
4
|
TNT |
3.5
|
9%
|
5,592
|
10%
|
| Tue., 5/10/11 | 8:15 PM | ATL 83, CHI 95 |
5
|
TNT |
3.3
|
-21%
|
5,100
|
-24%
|
| Wed., 5/11/11 | 7:00 PM | BOS 87, MIA 97 |
5
|
TNT |
4.3
|
—
|
6,777
|
—
|
| Wed., 5/11/11 | 9:30 PM | MEM 72, OKC 99 |
5
|
TNT |
3.4
|
—
|
5,462
|
—
|
| Sun., 5/15/11 | 8:00 PM | MIA 83, CHI 102 |
1
|
TNT |
6.2
|
41%
|
11,109
|
56%
|
| Wed., 5/18/11 | 8:30 PM | MIA 85, CHI 75 |
2
|
TNT |
6.1
|
39%
|
10,036
|
43%
|
| Sun., 5/22/11 | 9:00 PM | CHI 85, MIA 96 |
3
|
TNT |
6.4
|
28%
|
10,889
|
29%
|
| Tue., 5/24/11 | 9:00 PM | CHI 93, MIA 101 |
4
|
TNT |
6.1
|
24%
|
9,770
|
28%
|
| Thu., 5/26/11 | 9:00 PM | MIA 83, CHI 80 |
5
|
TNT |
6.4
|
21%
|
10,407
|
20%
|
(This year’s numbers from Turner Sports; 2010, 2009 and 2008 averages from Turner Sports; 2007 and 2006 averages from Sports Business Daily, 6/7/07)
