The 2011 NBA All-Star Game hit an eight-year high in TV ratings Sunday night, due in part to some massive increases in the nation’s largest television markets.
In at least four of the nation’s top ten television markets, ratings for the NBA All-Star Game improved by over 40%. The game was up 88% in #1 market New York (6.4), 123% in #2 market, and host city, Los Angeles (11.6), 48% in #3 market Chicago (9.9), and 100% in #7 market Boston (7.2).
All four cities had at least one All-Star starter, and boast either contending teams or teams that are having better-than-normal seasons.
Fueled by the presence of the Heat’s LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, ratings increased by 52% in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale (9.4).
While the largest TV markets turned in some impressive numbers for Sunday’s game, one of the league’s smaller markets led the way.
San Antonio (13.8) was the top market for the All-Star Game, up 48% from last year. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich coached the Western All-Stars, while Spurs F Tim Duncan started in place of Yao Ming.
San Antonio has turned in at least a 9.0 rating for the All-Star Game in each of the past four seasons.
In what may be surprising to some, Memphis (10.6) ranked third for Sunday’s game, up 39% from last year. Memphis ranked in the top five last year as well, and, similarly to San Antonio, has averaged at least a 7.5 for the All-Star Game in each of the past four seasons.
Cleveland was last year’s top All-Star market, with a 14.0. Ratings dropped 47% for this year’s game, to a 7.4. Though down from both last year and 2009, this year’s All-Star Game did better in Cleveland than the ’08 edition (7.3).
(Turner Sports)
