TNT Takes Primetime in Total Viewers with NBA Playoffs

Driven by the success of the NBA Playoffs, TNT swept the field last week as basic cable's #1 network in Primetime among total viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54. TNT also dominated the race for young adults, ranking as television's #1 network among adults 18-34 in primetime. Additionally, TNT garnered first-place rankings in total day delivery of adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

TNT's coverage of the 2014 NBA Playoffs delivered the network's most-viewed and highest-rated first round since 2011, with an average of 4,009,000 total viewers and a 2.6 U.S. HH rating for 26 live game telecasts, based on Nielsen Fast Nationals. The network's viewership is up +19% and its U.S. HH rating has increased +13% when compared with last year's opening round averages (3,374,000 total viewers; 2.3 U.S. HH rating).

The 2014 NBA Playoffs have propelled TNT to win the night in Primetime across all of cable television 11 times among the coveted men 18-34 and men 18-49 demos and seven times among total viewers. The network televised nine of the Top 10 most-viewed NBA Playoff games airing on cable through the first round. Additionally, TNT's Sports Emmy(R)-winning Inside the NBA studio show averaged a 1.3 U.S. HH rating and 1.8 million total viewers during the first round, up 8% and 6% respectively over last year.

TNT televised a Game 7 tripleheader on Saturday, May 4 - the Atlanta Hawks vs. Indiana Pacers at 5:30 p.m. ET followed by the Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors vs. the Los Angeles Clippers - averaging 5.1 million total viewers and a 3.2 U.S. HH rating. The tripleheader was up 28% among total viewers and 23% in U.S. HH rating over the network's overall averages for this year's first round action.

Game 7 between the Warriors/Clippers netted an average of 6.0 million total viewers and a 3.6 U.S. HH rating to register TNT's most-viewed first round telecast since Game 7 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in 2012. The Warriors/Clippers telecast peaked with a 4.2 U.S. HH rating and an average of 6.9 million total viewers from 1:30-1:45 a.m.

TNT's Game 7 coverage of Memphis/Oklahoma City averaged a 3.6 U.S. HH rating and 5.8 million total viewers to propel the network to win the night across all of cable in primetime. The telecast - peaking with a 3.7 U.S. HH rating and 6.2 million total viewers from 10:30-10:45p.m. - was up 33% in U.S. HH rating and 32% among total viewers over last year's comparable Game 7 between the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls (2.7 U.S. HH rating; 4.4 million total viewers).

Game 7 between the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers averaged a 2.3 U.S. HH rating and 3.5 million total viewers, peaking with a 3.4 U.S. HH rating and an average of 5.5 million total viewers from 8-8:15 p.m.

Following the Game 7 tripleheader, TNT's Inside the NBA delivered a 1.8 U.S. HH rating from 1:52-2:43 a.m. ET, based on metered market ratings. Saturday's overnight rating is up +38% when compared with the show's 1.3 average rating over the entire first round in 2014.

Additional notes about the NBA Playoffs are included below in the NBA TV and NBA.com & NBA Mobile sections.

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