NBA Playoffs Up 19% on ESPN/ABC

From ESPN -

NBA Playoff Viewership up 19 Percent on ABC; 15 Percent on ESPN


ABC’s two broadcasts during the opening weekend of the 2011 NBA Playoffs – Philadelphia at Miami and New Orleans at Los Angeles – averaged 5,254,000 viewers, an increase of 19 percent compared to 4,432,000 viewers for two opening weekend broadcasts last season, according to Nielsen.  The corresponding 3.4 rating was up 17 percent (vs. 2.9) and the 3,892,000 household impressions were up 16 percent (vs. 3,353,000) over last year.  ESPN’s three NBA Playoff telecasts from the opening weekend – Indiana/Chicago, Atlanta/Orlando and Portland/Dallas – averaged 3,448,000 viewers (up 15 percent vs. 3,007,000 last year), 2,544,000 household impressions (up 12 percent vs. 2,278,000 in 2010) and a 2.5 (up nine percent over a 2.3 rating).

NBA Playoff action continues this weekend, seven games in all, including a Sunday doubleheader on ABC – Miami at Philadelphia; Boston at New York (Game 4 for each series) beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Date	Time (ET)	Teams/Commentators	Networks
Fri, April 22	7 p.m.	Boston at New York, Gm 3 Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy, Lisa Salters	ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV
	8 p.m.	Orlando at Atlanta, Gm 3 Dan Shulman, Jon Barry, Ric Bucher	ESPN2 ESPN2 HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV
		Mark Jones, Bruce Bowen	ESPN 3D
	9:30 p.m.	L.A. Lakers at New Orleans, Gm 3 Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, Heather Cox	ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV
Sat, April 23	7:30 p.m.	San Antonio at Memphis, Gm 4 Terry Gannon, Tim Legler, Bucher	ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV
	10 p.m.	Oklahoma City at Denver, Gm 4 Dave Pasch, Doris Burke, Holly Rowe	ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV
Sun, April 24	12:30 p.m.	Buick Regal NBA Countdown Stuart Scott, Barry, Michael Wilbon	ABC, ABC HD
	1 p.m.	Miami at Philadelphia, Gm 4 Tirico, Brown, Cox	ABC, ABC HD
	3:30 p.m.	Boston at New York, Gm 4 Breen, Jackson, Van Gundy, Salters	ABC, ABC HD, ESPN Radio

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