Fueled by the NBA’s Big Three, the Lakers, Celtics and Cavaliers, TNT drew record numbers for NBA Opening Night.
TNT averaged a 2.3 U.S. rating and 3.7 million viewers for Tuesday’s Celtics/Cavaliers and Clippers/Lakers doubleheader, up 35% and 43%, respectively, from a 1.7 and 2.6 million for last year’s Opening Night doubleheader.
This marks Turner’s most-viewed Opening Night in its 26 years covering the NBA. Additionally, Tuesday’s doubleheader ranks as TNT’s most-viewed regular season NBA doubleheader since February 1996 — when the net averaged 4.6 million viewers for Suns/Cavaliers and Bulls/Lakers. Keep in mind that Bulls/Lakers game featured Michael Jordan against Magic Johnson, in the second game of the latter’s comeback to basketball.
In particular, Celtics/Cavaliers drew a 2.6 U.S. rating and 4 million viewers, up 53% and 54%, respectively, from a 1.7 and 2.6 million for the same matchup last year. Compared to Blazers/Spurs in ’07, the Celtics’ win was up 86% in ratings (1.4 to 2.6).
Celtics/Cavaliers ranks as the highest rated, most-viewed regular season NBA game on cable since Lakers/Celtics in February, also on TNT (2.7, 4.3 mil). Overall, the game ranks as the second-highest rated, second-most viewed regular season NBA game on cable since ’04.
The Clippers/Lakers nightcap drew a 2.1 U.S. rating and 3.4 million viewers, up 31% and 32%, respectively, from a 1.6 and 2.5 million for Blazers/Lakers last year. Compared to Rockets/Lakers in ’07, the Lakers’ win was up 40% in ratings (1.5 to 2.1).
To put the numbers in perspective, the Braves/Phillies MLB Opening Night game in April drew a 2.1 rating and 3.3 million viewers on ESPN2.
Source: Turner Sports
