Heat’s Streak Delivering Record Ratings For Sun Sports RSN

Sun Sports drew a 12.2 local rating in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale for the Heat-Celtics game on Monday night, marking a record for any Heat game – regular-season or playoff – on the RSN. The game also aired on ESPN (no local blackout), drawing a 5.3 rating in the market. Last night’s Heat-Cavaliers game drew an 11.7 local rating on the net, with the game peaking at an 18.5 rating as the Heat came back from 27 points down in the third quarter. Both telecasts beat the net’s previous top game rating – an 11.1 for a game against the Pacers on March 10. Sun Sports has aired 20 of the 24 Heat games during the team’s win streak, averaging an 8.9 local rating during that period. For comparison, Sun Sports was averaging a 5.7 rating for Heat games heading into the All-Star break (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).

ESPN’s Bill Simmons last night read a promo for the net's coverge of Heat-Bulls next Wednesday and said, “You know who’s praying that Miami’s streak keeps going? Here’s a hint: ESPN” (“Kia NBA Countdown,” ESPN, 3/20).