ESPN's doubleheader to start the NBA season drew a 1.7 overnight rating, up 31% from a 1.3 overnight for its slate of opening games last season. The net began with Spurs-Thunder in the early window, drawing a 1.5 overnight, which is up 7% from a 1.4 for Bulls-Knicks last year. The late window saw T'Wolves-Lakers draw a 1.8 overnight, up 50% from a 1.2 for Thunder-Trail Blazers last year. The games last night also marked WatchESPN's two most-viewed NBA regular-season games since the platform launched. T'Wolves-Lakers saw 240,500 unique viewers, while Spurs-Thunder drew 234,800 (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
GIDDY UP: The Mavericks have reached a multiyear TV rights extension with FS Southwest. Terms were not disclosed. The RSN has been the Mavs' local TV partner since '96. Mark Followill returns for his 15th season with the Mavericks and 11th season as play-by-play announcer, while former NBAer Derek Harper is back for his fifth full season as analyst. Jeff Wade enters his seventh season as courtside analyst (Mavericks).
TAKING FLIGHT: FS Southeast drew a 2.2 local rating in Atlanta for the Hawks' opener against the Pistons on Tuesday night, marking the team's best figure for an opener since a 2.8 for a game against the Jazz to start the lockout-shortened '11-12 season. The 2.2 rating also is up 100% from a 1.1 rating for the Raptors-Hawks season opener last season (Hawks).
HEART TO HEART: The Trail Blazers and iHeartMedia-Portland, owners of KPOJ-AM, have announced a multiyear agreement to continue broadcasting the team's games. The agreement also continues the pairing of Brian Wheeler and former NBAer Antonio Harvey as the broadcast tandem for the 31 cities and 19 stations along the Trail Blazers Radio Network. Wheeler is beginning his 18th season as the play-by-play voice of the Trail Blazers, while Harvey steps to the microphone as analyst for his 11th season (Trail Blazers).
