Heat Bulls Opening Night Matchup Most Viewed in TNT History

TNT’s opening season broadcast of the NBA averaged a 3.3 U.S. HH rating and 5.4 million total viewers to become the second highest-rated and most-viewed opening night game in network history.

The Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls matchup was the highest-rated and most-viewed game on the network since 2010 when Lebron James and Chris Bosh debuted with the Heat. Turner Sports, in its 30th consecutive year of NBA coverage, has televised the league’s opening night doubleheader 12 straight seasons.

The Eastern Conference matchup between the Bulls/Heat game propelled TNT to win the night across all cable networks. The telecast peaked with a 3.7 U.S. HH rating and 4.2 million total viewers from 10:30-10:45 p.m. Locally, the telecast generated a 17.1 in Miami and an 11.5 in Chicago.

TNT’s second game of the night – the Los Angeles Lakers vs. L.A. Clippers – averaged a 2.4 U.S. HH rating and 3.6 million total viewers. The telecast, with the Lakers competing minus injured star Kobe Bryant, peaked with a 3.2 U.S. HH rating and 3.8 million total viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. The game earned a 10.3 metered market rating in L.A.

Overall, the TNT doubleheader averaged a 2.9 U.S. HH rating and 4.5 million total viewers to register as the second highest-rated and most-viewed opening night doubleheader in the network’s history (trailing only 2010). TNT’s game telecasts – with more than 2.7 million tweets combined – were the most discussed programs (broadcast or cable) of the night across social media.

Additionally, Tuesday’s opening night doubleheader is up 125% among total viewers and 107% in U.S. HH rating compared with an average of two million total viewers and a 1.4 U.S. HH rating for network’s 52 regular season game telecasts last year.