TNT NBA Ratings Up 17%

Turner Network Television’s 52-game regular-season National Basketball Association package posted a 1.4 rating, up 17% from the network’s 1.2 average for 54 games during the 2002-03 season.

The network said it also posted double-digit growth across all key demographics and in overall household reach.

“It is gratifying, that on the toughest night in television, fans continue to support TNT as the home of the NBA on Thursday night,” Turner Sports president David Levy said in a prepared statement.

“With the playoffs quickly approaching, we are enthused that our terrific growth in the NBA regular season will translate into strong playoff success, as well,” he added.

TNT’s NBA Playoffs coverage kicks off Sunday at 6:30 p.m. (EST) with a pregame show featuring Emmy Award-winning Inside the NBA studio team Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley, followed by a doubleheader.