The NBA and the NHL playoffs proved to be ratings juggernauts for TNT and ESPN as both networks placed among the top three most-watched services on the primetime and total day charts.
TNT finished in first place in primetime for the week of May 9 to May 15, averaging 3.4 million viewers, topping Fox News (2.2 million viewers) for the second straight week, according to Nielsen. The network was led by both its NBA and NHL playoff game coverage, including this past Sunday’s Dallas Mavericks-Phoenix Suns Game Seven NBA Western Conference semifinal series telecast which drew more than 6 million viewers, according to Nielsen.
ESPN, which also televised several NBA and NHL playoffs games, averaged 2.1 million viewers to finish third for the week, followed by MSNBC’s 983,000 viewers and HGTV’s 927,000 watchers.
TBS, which drew 2.3 million viewers for its May 15 New York Rangers-Pittsburgh Penguins Game Seven NHL playoffs telecast, averaged 821,000 viewers to finish in sixth place for the week, followed by INSP (764,000 viewers), Hallmark Channel (743,000), TLC (722,000) and History (721,000).
Fox News retained the total day crown for the 19th consecutive week with 1.4 million viewers, besting TNT (912,000 viewers), ESPN (757,000), MSNBC (621,000) and HGTV (502,000), reported Nielsen.
