ABC scored another increase in NBA ratings for the Easter Sunday matchup between the Bulls and Knicks.
The April 8th Bulls/Knicks NBA regular season game drew a 2.3 final rating and 3.447 million viewers on ABC, up 15% in ratings and 16% in viewership from last year (CHI/ORL: 2.0, 2.960M), and up 64% and 72%, respectively, from 2010 (ORL/CLE: 1.4, 2.002M).
Despite the increase, the game ranks as the second-lowest rated and second-least viewed NBA game of the season on ABC (does not include Sunday’s doubleheader).
Three of the four least-viewed games on ABC this season have involved the Chicago Bulls.
NBA on TNT Up Only Slightly From Last Year: Entering Tuesday’s doubleheader, TNT has averaged a 1.7 U.S. rating and 2.591 million viewers for regular season NBA coverage, up 6% in ratings and viewership from the season-to-date average last year (1.6, 2.453M), and up 55% and 50%, respectively, from the season-to-date average two years ago (1.1, 1.723M).
Keep in mind the 2011-12 NBA regular season began on Christmas Day due to the owners’ five-month lockout of players, the fourth work stoppage in NBA history (all owner-imposed lockouts). Versus the comparable December-April period last season, this year’s averages are up 6% and 8%, respectively.
Though up only slightly from last year, TNT is on pace to have its most-viewed NBA regular season.
(April 8 numbers from Media Life Magazine; TNT averages from Turner Sports press release via The Futon Critic)
