Pro hoops was at the root of Turner Network Television's primetime victory
last week, as the network's coverage of the National Basketball Association
playoffs netted six of the top 25 programs slots May 12 through 18.
The drama network averaged a 2.6 household rating over that span, easily
outdistancing second-place Nickelodeon's 1.7, according to an ABC Cable Networks
Group analysis of Nielsen Media Research data.
Cartoon Network and USA Network were knotted in third with a 1.6, while
Lifetime Television was fifth at a 1.5.
Rounding out the top 10: Fox News Channel and Disney Channel, each with a
1.4; TBS Superstation with a 1.3; and ESPN and FX, both with a 1.1.
TNT's presentation of the San Antonio Spurs' game-five victory over the Los
Angeles Lakers May 13 dunked a 6.2 household average, making it basic cable's
highest-rated show of the week.
TNT also scored with the May 17 game between the Sacramento Kings and Dallas
Mavericks (No. 3 with a 4.3); the Philadelphia 76ers-Detroit Pistons tilt May 14
(tied for sixth with a 3.4); the Mavericks/Kings contest May 13 (also a 3.4);
the battle between the New Jersey Nets and the Boston Celtics May 12 (a 3.3 good
for 11th); and the May 13 postgame edition of Inside the NBA
(tied for 20th with a 2.9).
For its part, ESPN's coverage of the Sixers-Pistons May 16 (tied for
18th with a 3.0) and Mavs-Kings May 15 (tied for 22nd with a 2.8)
also spotted up in the week's top 25.
