The end of the most dramatic first round NBA Playoff series in history gave TNT record ratings on Saturday night.
The Celtics’ Game 7 win over the Bulls drew a 4.4 U.S. rating and 7 million viewers on TNT Saturday night, up 26% in ratings and 46% in viewership from a 3.5 and 4.8 million for Hawks/Celtics Game 7 last year, which aired on a Sunday afternoon on ABC.
Game 7 finishes as easily the highest rated, most viewed first round NBA Playoff game ever on cable, surpassing the previous record set just two nights before for Celtics/Bulls Game 6.
The 4.4 rating is also the highest for any first round playoff game on broadcast or cable Lakers/Rockets drew a 4.8 on ABC in 2004.
Overall, Bulls/Celtics averaged a 2.9 U.S. rating on ESPN/ABC and TNT, up 53% from a 1.9 for games in the seven comparable windows last year.
Source: Turner Sports
