Through at least the first weekend, viewers are flocking back to the NBA Playoffs.
ESPN and TNT averaged 2.9 million viewers for six playoff games last weekend, up 26% from last year, with four of the six games drawing double-digit increases. Three NBA Playoff games finished in the Top 40 most watched programs on cable last week, with Hawks/Celtics Game 1 finishing #18.
Despite having two of the three games it televised actually drop in the ratings, TNT finished #2 for the week behind USA Network. Hawks/Celtics drew a 2.2 national rating with 3.4 million viewers, up 13% from Warriors/Mavericks Game 1 last year. Meanwhile, 76ers/Pistons finished with 3 million viewers, down 5% from Nuggets/Spurs in ’07. The least watched playoff game of the weekend was Raptors/Magic, which was the only game to draw fewer than 2 million viewers.
ESPN finished #6 for the week on cable, thanks in part to major increases for its Saturday coverage. The network saw a whopping 94% increase for Wizards/Cavaliers Game 1, which drew 2.8 million viewers at 12:30 PM on Saturday.
Both Western Conference games televised by ESPN joined Hawks/Celtics in the Top 40 for the week; Mavericks/Hornets and Jazz/Rockets drew 3.1 million viewers — up 69% and 34%, respectively, from last year.
The success of last weekend has continued through this week. Through nine games, TNT is averaging a 2.1 rating, up 16% from last year. The network has seen increases of 25% to 30% across all male demographics.
