NBA Playoffs on ESPN: Second Most-Watched First Round Ever

Second Highest-Rated First Round on ESPN; Double-Digit Increases in Viewership and Rating

The first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs on ESPN is the second most-watched and second-highest rated ever, according to Nielsen. The nine games on ESPN saw double-digit increases in both viewership and rating. The first round averaged 3,466,000 viewers (p2+), up 12 percent from 3,102,000 last season. In addition, the first round averaged a 2.2 U.S. household rating, up 10 percent from a 2.0 last season.

ESPN also saw increases in several key demos, including 15 percent for P18-49 (1.5 vs. 1.3), 11 percent for M25-54 (2.1 vs. 1.9), 10 percent for M18-49 (2.2 vs. 2.0), and five percent for M18-34 (2.3 vs. 2.2).

The NBA Playoffs are also up across the board through its two games on ESPN2 (compared to three last season). On ESPN2, the first round averaged a 0.9 U.S. household rating, up 13 percent from a 0.8 last season. Viewership also increased with an average of 1,232,000 (p2+) compared to 1,212,000 last season.

The first round of the NBA Playoffs delivered significant increases on WatchESPN. The average minute audience was 23,623, up 111 percent from last year's first round.

The NBA Playoffs will continue Thursday-Sunday with seven telecasts of the Conference Semifinals across ESPN's family of networks.

Date Time (ET) Game/Commentators Networks

Thu, May 8 7 p.m Brooklyn Nets at Miami Heat - Game 2 Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, Lisa Salters ESPN2, WatchESPN 9:30 p.m. Portland Trail Blazers at San Antonio Spurs - Game 2 Dave Pasch, Jon Barry, Heather Cox ESPN2, WatchESPN

Fri, May 9 8 p.m. Indiana Pacers at Washington Wizards - Game 3 Mark Jones, Doris Burke, Chris Broussard ESPN, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Clippers - Game 3 Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, J.A. Adande ESPN, WatchESPN

Sat, May 10 8 p.m. NBA Countdown Sage Steele, Doug Collins, Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons ABC, WatchABC 8:15 p.m. Miami Heat at Brooklyn Nets - Game 3 Mike Tirico, Hubie Brown, Lisa Salters ABC, WatchABC, ESPN3 10:30 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Portland Trail Blazers - Game 3 Dave Pasch, Jon Barry, Heather Cox ESPN, WatchESPN, ESPN3

Sun, May 11 3 p.m. NBA Countdown Sage Steele, Doug Collins, Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons ABC, WatchABC 3:30 p.m. Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Clippers - Game 4 Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Heather Cox ABC, WatchABC, ESPN3