The NBA playoffs this year have gotten off to a great start for the NBA and for Turner Network Television, as the first round games have already set league records for viewership.
In 27 years that TNT has covered the NBA they have never received a one day explosion in viewers like they got this past Sunday, much of which was centered around the opening game for the New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics series in the Eastern Conference.
Via Sports Media Watch:
TNT averaged a 2.8 U.S. rating and 4.542 million viewers for NBA Playoff coverage on Sunday, up 27% in ratings and 36% in viewership from last year (2.2, 3.336M), and the most-viewed opening day of the playoffs ever on Turner Sports.
In particular, Sunday’s Knicks/Celtics Game 1 drew a 3.6 U.S. rating and 5.989 million viewers, up 44% in ratings and 53% in viewership from last year (SA/DAL G1: 2.5, 3.925M), and up 64% and 86%, respectively, from 2009 (MIA/ATL G1: 2.2, 3.228M).
The Celtics’ win drew more viewers than every single first round playoff game — on broadcast or cable — last season.
In addition, the game ranks as the second-most viewed first round game ever on cable, behind only Bulls/Celtics Game 7 in 2009 (6.987M). The previous second-ranked game was Celtics/Bulls Game 6 in 2009 (5.352M).
