TNT Has Record Setting Ratings for Opening Night

[Donoghus]

Not too surprising given the media hype going into the games.

From Sports Media News:

TNT Has Record Setting Ratings for NBA Season Opener


Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics is Most Watched Regular Season Game Ever on Cable

TNT’s Doubleheader Ranks as Most-Watched Opening Night in Turner’s 27 years Covering the NBA

Tipping off one of the most anticipated seasons in the league’s history, TNT’s exclusive doubleheader coverage of opening night of the 2010-11 NBA season delivered record-setting ratings and audience for the network, averaging a 3.5 US rating, 5,493,000 total viewers and 4,025,000 households.  The opening game, featuring the Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics, earned a 4.6 US rating and delivered 7,433,000 total viewers and 5,339,000 households, making it the most watched regular season NBA game on cable of all-time (topping the Chicago Bulls vs. LA Lakers on Feb. 2, 1996).  Game two of the doubleheader, featuring the Houston Rockets @ Los Angeles Lakers at 10:30 p.m. (ET) delivered a 2.4 US rating, 3,719,000 total viewers and 2,823,000 households, making the doubleheader the most watched NBA Opening Night doubleheader in Turner’s 27 years of tipping off the season.

Other highlights from TNT’s exclusive doubleheader include:

TNT’s opening night doubleheader saw double digit growth in ratings, total viewers, households and all key demos over last year’s record setting exclusive openers (Celtics/Cavaliers, followed by LA Clippers/LA Lakers).
Locally the games delivered huge audiences in their home markets of Miami (15.5 HH rating), Boston (17.1 HH rating), LeBron James’ former home market of Cleveland (10.6 HH rating), Houston (7.4 HH rating) and Los Angeles (9.7 HH rating).

[fairweatherfan]

I believe it - C's/Heat was the biggest regular-season game (hype-wise) that I can remember.  For all the hype the Heat are undeservedly getting, they're getting a lot of casual fans to pay attention to the league again.  And the Lakers/Celtics being strong is always good for the league too. 

And I'd love to see what the Chinese ratings looked like.  Stern wasn't just looking for American viewers by picking the Rockets.