TNT’s Exclusive Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat Telecast Delivers Second Most-Viewed Opening Night Game in Network History

Turner Sports’ exclusive NBA on TNT Opening Night 2013 Presented by AutoTrader.com featuring the Miami Heat and LeBron James against the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose – Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m. ET – 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. Last night’s opening night telecast was the highest-rated and most-viewed game on the network since 2010 when 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.

TNT’s coverage of Kia NBA Tip-Off ’13 will continue Thursday, Oct. 31, with the Bulls hosting the New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony at 8 p.m., and the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry visiting the Clippers and Chris Paul at 10:30 p.m. Marv Albert will provide the call for the Knicks/Bulls game with analyst Steve Kerr and reporter David Aldridge, with Kevin Harlan describing the Warriors/Clippers game with analyst Reggie Miller and reporter Craig Sager.

The network’s Sports Emmy Award-winning Inside the NBA presented by Kia cast of host Ernie Johnson and analysts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal will preview the action and also provide halftime updates and a full postgame show.

Source: Fast Nationals and Metered Market Ratings based on Nielsen Live + Same Day data stream for the dates of the 2013-14 NBA Regular Season Opening Night on TNT compared historically on TNT, excluding the Christmas Day game in 2011-12 on TNT. Competitive networks for 10/29/2013 based on metered market ratings.