TNT Jumps Through Nielsen Hoops
First Nine NBA Playoff Games Score 14% Cable Ratings Gain
By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 4/24/2008 5:41:00 PM
TNT has leaped out to a good start with its coverage of the 2008 National Basketball Association playoffs.
Through its first nine games, including the Boston Celtics’ thrashing of the Atlanta Hawks and the Los Angeles Lakers’ beat-down of the Denver Nuggets Wednesday night, TNT averaged a 2.1 national rating, a 17% jump from the 1.8 mark it had recorded through the same stage last season, according to Nielsen Media Research data. Translating into cable coverage ratings, TNT rang up a 2.4 average for the nine contests, up 14% from a 2.1 in 2007.
All told, the service scored an 18% increase in households to 2.31 million and 17% advance in viewers to 2.91 million from 2.48 million.
A demographic breakdown shows even more dramatic gains for the “drama” network. TNT netted a 26% rise among adults 18 to 34 and 18 to 49; a 25% uptick with adults 25 to 54; 31% amelioration with men 18 to 34; 30% growth with guys 18 to 49; and 28% against males 25 to 54.
TNT’s ’40 Games in 40 Nights” gambit continues tonight with Game 3 doubleheaders from the Cleveland Cavaliers-Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets-Utah Jazz series.
The channel’s coverage concludes with an exclusive presentation of the Western Conference finals.
