Entering Thursday night, the 2010 NBA Playoffs have performed well for TNT, ESPN and ABC.
Fourteen NBA Playoff games on TNT, ESPN and ABC averaged a 2.2 U.S. rating and approximately 3.3 million viewers through Wednesday, even in ratings and up slightly in viewership compared to last year (2.2, 3.2 mil).
Seven games had increases in ratings, ten had increases in viewership, and three had declines in both.
Last Saturday’s Heat/Celtics Game 1 on ESPN had the largest increase in ratings and viewership. The game drew a 2.5 U.S. rating and 3.8 million viewers, up 47% and 58%, respectively, from Mavericks/Spurs Game 1 in the same timeslot a year earlier (1.7, 2.4 mil).
Conversely, Wednesday’s Bobcats/Magic Game 2 on TNT had the largest decline. The game drew a 1.4 U.S. rating and 2.1 million viewers — the lowest rated, least-viewed game of the playoffs so far — down 26% and 29%, respectively, from Heat/Hawks Game 2 last year (1.9, 2.9 mil).
Sunday’s Thunder/Lakers Game 1 on ABC stands as the top game of the playoffs so far, with a 3.3 rating and 5.1 million viewers. The top game on cable was Bulls/Cavaliers Game 2 on TNT Monday night, which drew a 2.6 and 3.9 million viewers.
Ratings/Viewership For 2010 NBA Playoffs on TNT, ESPN and ABC Through Wednesday
| Date | Time | Game | # | Net | Rating | vs. ’09 | Viewers (000) | vs. ’09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., 4/17/10 | 3:00 PM | Bulls 83 | 1 | ABC |
2.5
|
13.6%
|
3,679
|
17.7%
|
| Cavaliers 96 | ||||||||
| 5:30 PM | Bucks 92 | 1 | ESPN |
1.5
|
—
|
2,160
|
—
|
|
| Hawks 102 | ||||||||
| 8:05 PM | Heat 76 | 1 | ESPN |
2.5
|
47.1%
|
3,821
|
58.2%
|
|
| Celtics 85 | ||||||||
| 10:30 PM | Jazz 113 | 1 | ESPN |
1.9
|
-9.5%
|
2,921
|
-5.5%
|
|
| Nuggets 126 | ||||||||
| Sun., 4/18/10 | 3:00 PM | Thunder 79 | 1 | ABC |
3.3
|
3.1%
|
5,132
|
6.3%
|
| Lakers 87 | ||||||||
| 5:39 PM | Bobcats 89 | 1 | TNT |
2.0
|
11.1%
|
3,116
|
13.1%
|
|
| Magic 96 | ||||||||
| 8:18 PM | Spurs 94 | 1 | TNT |
2.5
|
13.6%
|
3,925
|
21.6%
|
|
| Mavericks 100 | ||||||||
| 10:53 PM | Blazers 105 | 1 | TNT |
2.0
|
even
|
2,988
|
8.4%
|
|
| Suns 100 | ||||||||
| Mon., 4/19/10 | 8:05 PM | Bulls 102 | 2 | TNT |
2.6
|
even
|
3,907
|
3.9%
|
| Cavaliers 112 | ||||||||
| 10:41 PM | Jazz 114 | 2 | TNT |
2.1
|
even
|
3,149
|
5.6%
|
|
| Nuggets 111 | ||||||||
| Tue., 4/20/10 | 8:06 PM | Heat 77 | 2 | TNT |
1.9
|
-20.8%
|
2,874
|
-22.3%
|
| Celtics 106 | ||||||||
| 10:42 PM | Thunder 92 | 2 | TNT |
2.5
|
4.2%
|
3,741
|
3.7%
|
|
| Lakers 95 | ||||||||
| Wed., 4/21/10 | 7:06 PM | Bobcats 77 | 2 | TNT |
1.4
|
-26.3%
|
2,066
|
-28.7%
|
| Magic 92 | ||||||||
| 9:46 PM | Spurs 102 | 2 | TNT |
2.1
|
5.0%
|
3,059
|
9.8%
|
|
| Mavericks 88 |
(ESPN, Turner Sports, pifeedback.com)
