TNT Scores with 2008-09 NBA Regular Season Coverage
April 15, 2009
The NBA on TNT continued to be a winning formula during the 2008-09 regular season. The network's enormous success during the regular season included year-over-year ratings growth across the board, with double-digit growth in all key adult demos, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. Compared to the 2007-08 regular season, TNT saw a 14% increase in total viewers (1,711,000 vs. 1,496,000), averaged a 1.1 U.S. HH rating, up 4%, and garnered a 5% increase in homes (1,296,000 vs. 1,230,000). TNT also experienced outstanding growth across all key demos compared to the 2007-08 season, including:
� +13% A18-34 (543,000 vs. 479,000)
� +17% A18-49 (980,000 vs. 835,000)
� +16% A25-54 (881,000 vs. 760,000)
� +7% M18-34 (403,000 vs. 377,000)
� +12% M18-49 (691,000 vs. 617,000)
� +12% M25-54 (614,000 vs. 547,000)
TNT's "40 Games in 40 Nights" coverage of the 2009 NBA Playoffs will tip off on Sunday, April 19 with a tripleheader and the network will provide exclusive coverage of the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals.
"This marks the second consecutive year of overall growth for our exclusive Thursday night coverage of the NBA,"said David Levy, president of Turner Broadcasting Sales, Inc. and Turner Sports. "The NBA continues to be a very strong property, and we are thrilled to partner with a league that shares our commitment to deliver a quality product to fans.�
The regular season was highlighted by a number of compelling and marquee match-ups, including the Feb. 5 contest between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. This rematch of last year's NBA Finals earned a 2.7 U.S. rating, making it the most-watched NBA game of the season on cable (4,356,000 viewers). TNT had additional success during its exclusive coverage of NBA All-Star 2009, achieving a ratings milestone with its coverage of NBA All-Star Saturday Night on Feb. 14. The night garnered double-digit growth in total viewers (+26%, 6,730,000) over the year prior and ranks as the most-watched telecast in the event's 24-year history. Additionally, the network's coverage of the 2009 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 15, attracted 7,691,000 million total viewers, a 20% increase over 2008. TNT's NBA All-Star programming secured the network the #1 ranking in primetime for both Saturday and Sunday among ad-supported cable television.
Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting, Inc., presents some of the best and most popular sporting events worldwide and is a leader in televised and online sports programming. With events airing on TBS and TNT, Turner Sports' line-up includes NASCAR and NASCAR.COM, the NBA, Major League Baseball, professional golf, PGATour.com and PGA.com. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA League Pass, NBADLeague.com and WNBA.com
Turner Network Television (TNT), one of cable's top-rated networks, is television's destination for drama and home to such original series as the acclaimed and highly popular detective drama The Closer, starring Kyra Sedgwick; Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter; Raising the Bar, with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben and Jane Kaczmarek; Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; HawthoRNe, with Jada Pinkett Smith; and Dark Blue, starring Dylan McDermott. TNT also presents such powerful dramas as Bones, Cold Case, Law & Order, Without a Trace, ER and Charmed; broadcast premiere movies; compelling primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards�; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA. TNT is available in high-definition.
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world
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