Media Release

NBA Playoffs Propel TNT to Cable’s #1 Network in Primetime Throughout First Two Weeks of Action

NBA on TNT

TNT Delivers its Most-Watched First Round Coverage Since 2014

TNT’s first round coverage of the 2018 NBA Playoffs, presented by Hulu, led the network to cable’s #1 ranking in primetime over the two-week period, based on an average of nearly three million viewers in that particular telecast window (8-11 p.m. ET). The NBA Playoffs on TNT generated the network’s most-watched first round coverage since 2014.

TNT’s first round action averaged a 2.3 U.S. HH rating and 3.6 million viewers for its 23 live game telecasts, up 10% and 5% respectively, vs. 2017 (2.1 U.S. HH rating; 3.4 million viewers).  TNT’s NBA Playoffs coverage has delivered the top program of the night 10 times across all of television among Men 18-34 through the first round.

Additional highlights include:

Cable’s Most-Watched First Round Game Since 2012
TNT’s Cleveland Cavaliers/Indiana Pacers Game 4 telecast on Sunday, April 22, averaged 6.1 million viewers to deliver cable’s most-viewed first round NBA Playoff telecast since 2012 (Nuggets/Lakers).

TNT’s Inside the NBA Most-Watched in Four Years
Since the start of the NBA Playoffs, TNT’s Inside the NBA is averaging its most-viewed telecasts since 2015. The show’s average of 1.7 million viewers is up 9% vs. 2017.

Turner’s NBA Social Channels Net Significant Growth
Content published across NBA on TNT and NBA TV social channels has generated an 80% increase in engagements and a 77% gain in video views during the first round of the playoffs.

NBA TV’s First Round Viewership Up 12%
NBA TV also garnered its most-watched NBA Playoffs coverage since 2014, with its average of 505,000 viewers for its six originally produced first round telecasts up 12% vs. 2017. The network’s Utah Jazz/Oklahoma City Thunder Game 5 telecast on Wednesday, April 25, averaged 823,000 viewers – NBA TV’s most-viewed playoff game since 2014.

TNT is home to more than 40 NBA Playoff games – the most of any network – including First Round and Conference Semifinals action and the exclusive presentation of the 2018 NBA Western Conference Finals. 

Source: Nielsen Media Research. Live +SD data stream. 2018 (4/15/18-4/28/18) vs. 2017 (4/16/17-4/27/17). Facebook Insights, Twitter Analytics & CrowdTangle.

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