TNT’s 2018 NBA Western Conference Finals Coverage Continues Record-Setting Pace with Significant Audience Growth Across All Platforms

2018 NBA Western Conference Finals – Rockets/Warriors – Averages 8.2 Million Viewers

Through Two Games to Rank as TNT’s Most-Watched WCF of All Time

Last Night’s WCF Game 2 Generates Viewership Increases of 47%

vs. 2017 ECF Game 2 & 30% vs. 2017 WCF Game 2

TNT’s exclusive presentation of the 2018 NBA Western Conference Finals – Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors – continues to deliver record-setting audiences and significant viewership growth across all Turner platforms. Through the first two games of the series, TNT’s game coverage is averaging 8,160,000 total viewers to garner the network’s most-viewed NBA Western Conference Finals series to date, based on Nielsen Fast Nationals.  

TNT’s first two WCF telecasts have both delivered the most-watched program of the night across all of television (cable and broadcast), according to metered market delivery. This year’s WCF series is up 41% over last year’s Eastern Conference Finals on TNT (Boston/Cleveland) and 16% vs. the 2017 WCF (Warriors/Spurs).

Last night’s WCF Game 2 – won by the Rockets, 127-105 – averaged 7.5 million viewers for an increase of 47% when compared with last year’s ECF Game 2 and 30% over the 2017 WCF Game 2.  Last night’s Warriors/Rockets WCF Game 2 telecast peaked with an average of 8.7 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET.

Additional highlights include:

Inside the NBA Viewership Up 32%

TNT’s iconic Inside the NBA is averaging a 2.5 metered market rating through its first two WCF telecasts, up 32% over last year, while continuing to deliver the most watched late night show on television across all key demos.  

2018 WCF Garners Significant Growth Across All Demos

Through two games, TNT’s Warriors/Rockets telecasts have generated double-digit increases across all core demos, including a 31% increase in People 18-34 and 26% in Men 18-34 vs. the comparable 2017 ECF games on TNT.  This year’s WCF is up approximately 25% or higher across all demos vs. last year’s WCF series.

TNT’s Most Watched NBA Playoffs Coverage Since 2014

Through Game 2 of the WCF, the NBA Playoffs on TNT continue to generate the network’s most-watched playoffs coverage since 2014.  

Turner’s TVE Platform Sets Record Consumption

Watch TNT, Turner’s TV Everywhere platform for the network, has generated an all-time record for total minutes of consumption through the first two games of the series.

Turner’s NBA Social Channels Up Significantly  

Content published across NBA on TNT and NBA TV social channels has generated a record 122% gain in video views and 34% increase in engagements and compared to last year’s corresponding Conference Finals.

TNT’s exclusive coverage of the 2018 Western Conference Finals will continue Sunday, May 20, with Game 3 of the series at 8 p.m. The network’s coverage will begin with NBA Tip-Off presented by Autotrader at 7:30 p.m. with host Ernie Johnson and analysts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal.

Source:  Nielsen Media Research, based on Live + SD fast nationals for 05/16/2018, compared historically to NBA Playoff telecasts on ad supported cable networks. Online TVE Live Stream Starts, Users by Quarter Hour (rounded based on actual game time) from Omniture SiteCatalyst; Mobile TVE Live Stream Starts, Users based on 1 minute qualifier per VHL from Oniture. Connected Device Stream Starts. Users based on 1 minute qualifier per VHL from oniture. Total TV Minutes are based on Nielsen Live + SD with a 1 min qualifier.

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