Despite being delayed and shortened by the owners’ five-month lockout, the 2011-12 NBA regular season was the highest rated and most-viewed ever on TNT.
Coverage of the 2011-12 NBA regular season averaged a 1.7 U.S. rating and 2.498 million viewers on TNT, up a tick in ratings and 2% in viewership from last year (1.6, 2.453M), and up 55% and 45%, respectively, from the 2009-10 season (1.1, 1.723M).
This marks the highest rated and most-viewed NBA regular season ever on TNT, breaking the previous record set last season. Before last year, the 1995-96 season was the most-viewed on TNT, with an average of 1.885 million viewers.
Since averaging just 1.315 million viewers during the 2006-07 season, NBA viewership on TNT has increased for five consecutive seasons.
The regular season did not begin until Christmas Day due to the owners’ lockout. As a result, TNT aired 45 regular season games this year instead of the customary 52.
The top game of the season on TNT was Celtics/Knicks on Christmas Day, the first game of the season (3.4, 5.860M). By comparison, two games drew stronger numbers last season — Heat/Celtics on Opening Night (4.6, 7.348M), and Heat/Cavaliers on December 2, 2010 (4.2, 7.096M).
TNT was not the only network to set a record during the abbreviated season. ABC had its highest rated and most-viewed regular season since acquiring NBA rights in 2002.
(Season averages from Turner Sports)
