Ratings Mixed For NBA Playoffs On Cable Partners

During the opening weekend of the NBA playoffs, TNT saw ratings increases for two of its three games compared to games in similar time slots last year. ESPN saw ratings declines, although direct comparisons are difficult because of varying time slots and matchups. The chart below shows all ratings for this weekend’s NBA games on cable, with comparisons to similar time slots last year (THE DAILY).

'07 NBA PLAYOFFS: OPENING WEEKEND CABLE NIELSEN RATINGS
DATE	NET	TIME	GAME	RATING	% +/-	HHs	% +/-
4/23	TNT	9:45pm	Warriors-Mavericks	2.6	8.3%	2,410	12.1%
4/23	TNT	7:00pm	Nuggets-Spurs	2.5	8.7%	2,330	10.7%
4/22	ESPN	9:30pm^	Jazz-Rockets	2.0	-4.8%	1,851	-2.2%
4/22	ESPN	7:00pm^^	Magic-Pistons	1.6	-36.0%	1,496	-34.8%
4/23	TNT	12:30pm	Wizards-Cavaliers	1.6	-23.8%	1,450	-22.1%
4/22	ESPN	12:30pm	Nets-Raptors	1.3	N/A	1,214	N/A

NOTES: Comparisons are for comparable time slots from last year, not necessarily the similar matchup. Ratings are coverage area cable ratings. ^ = Game compared to the 10:45pm telecast on ESPN last year. ^^ = Similar time slot (8:00pm) in '06 on ESPN was Full Circle coverage.

LOCAL RATINGS: Rockets-Jazz Game One Saturday earned a 4.1/7 and averaged 80,900 HHs on FSN Houston, marking the highest-rated Rockets telecast on the net since a 4.2 for Rockets-Mavericks Game Four during the first round of the ’05 playoffs. FSN Houston locally outdrew ESPN’s simulcast, which earned a 3.7 (FSN Houston)....TNT drew a 5.5 rating in the S.F. market for Warriors-Mavericks Game One Sunday night, while FSN Bay Area earned a 2.7 rating. The combined 8.2 rating represents 191,800 HHs (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/24).