TNT earned one of the largest NBA audiences ever on cable for Wednesday’s Spurs/Thunder finale.
Game 6 of the Spurs/Thunder NBA Western Conference Finals drew a 6.0 U.S. rating and 9.498 million viewers on TNT Wednesday night, according to Nielsen fast-nationals — up 25% in ratings and 16% in viewership from Lakers/Suns Game 6 on a Saturday night in 2010 (4.8, 8.154M), and up 15% and 14%, respectively, from Cavaliers/Magic Game 6 on a Saturday night in 2009 (5.2, 8.362M).
The game ranks as the 12th-most viewed NBA game ever on cable, and the second-most viewed Western Conference playoff game. Only Lakers/Nuggets Game 4 on ESPN in 2009 (9.731M) drew more viewers.
In addition, Game 6 is tied as the highest rated Western Conference Finals telecast to involve the Spurs since Spurs/Trail Blazers on NBC in 1999 (7.8).
Locally, Game 6 drew a 34.9 rating in Oklahoma City and a 26.7 in San Antonio.
Overall, the six-game Thunder/Spurs series averaged a 5.0 U.S. rating and 7.823 million viewers on TNT, down 19% in ratings and 25% in viewership from Heat/Bulls on TNT last year (6.2, 10.413M), and up 4% in ratings and virtually flat in viewership from Lakers/Suns on TNT in 2010 (4.8, 7.854M).
Compared to last year’s Mavericks/Thunder Western Conference Finals on ESPN, ratings and viewership increased by 16% and 13%, respectively, from a 4.3 and 6.939 million.
15 Most-Viewed NBA Games Ever on Cable
|
#
|
Date
|
Game
|
Round
|
Net
|
Viewers (000)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun., 5/15/11 | Heat/Bulls |
ECF Gm. 1
|
TNT |
11,109
|
| 2 | Sun., 6/3/12 | Heat/Celtics |
ECF Gm. 4
|
ESPN |
11,068
|
| 3 | Sun., 5/22/11 | Bulls/Heat |
ECF Gm. 3
|
TNT |
10,889
|
| 4 | Sun., 2/9/03 | West/East |
All-Star
|
TNT |
10,829
|
| 5 | Thu., 5/26/11 | Heat/Bulls |
ECF Gm. 5
|
TNT |
10,407
|
| 6 | Tue., 6/5/12 | Celtics/Heat |
ECF Gm. 5
|
ESPN |
10,251
|
| 7 | Tue., 5/26/09 | Cavs/Magic |
ECF Gm. 4
|
TNT |
10,075
|
| 8 | Wed., 5/18/11 | Heat/Bulls |
ECF Gm. 2
|
TNT |
10,036
|
| 9 | Thu., 5/28/09 | Magic/Cavs |
ECF Gm. 5
|
TNT |
9,995
|
| 10 | Tue., 5/24/11 | Bulls/Heat |
ECF Gm. 4
|
TNT |
9,770
|
| 11 | Mon., 5/25/09 | Lakers/Nuggets |
WCF Gm. 4
|
ESPN |
9,731
|
| 12 | Wed., 6/6/12 | Spurs/Thunder |
WCF Gm. 6
|
TNT |
9,498
|
| 13 | Mon., 5/31/04 | Wolves/Lakers |
WCF Gm. 6
|
TNT |
9,438
|
|
14
|
Wed., 5/27/09 | Nuggets/Lakers |
WCF Gm. 5
|
ESPN |
9,238
|
|
15
|
Mon., 6/1/05 | Pistons/Heat |
ECF Gm. 7
|
TNT |
9,149
|
(Wednesday’s numbers from Turner Sports)
