Coming off the heels of TNT's record numbers for the 2009 NBA playoffs, ESPN’s coverage of the 2009 NBA Playoffs averaged a 3.7 rating, representing 3,594,000 households and 4,893,000 viewers (P2+), the network’s highest-rated and most-viewed NBA postseason ever.  ESPN set the new record for the second consecutive season, besting last year’s 3.3 rating, 3,149,000 households and 4,100,000 viewers.

Additionally, ESPN’s exclusive coverage of the 2009 Western Conference Finals averaged a 6.2 rating, 6,057,000 households and 8,712,000 viewers, the network’s highest-rated and most-viewed Conference Finals ever.  This year’s Conference Finals surpassed a 4.8 rating for the 2006 Eastern Conference Finals (Detroit/Miami) and previous highs for households and viewers (2008 Eastern Conference Finals, Boston/Detroit – 4,552,000 households and 6,033,000 viewers).

ESPN’s exclusive coverage of the 2009 Conference Semifinals was also record-setting, averaging a 3.5 rating, 3,459,000 households and 4,576,000 viewers.  The previous marks were set in 2006 (3.4 rating) and 2008 (3,099,000 households and 3,950,000 viewers).

Overall, the 2009 NBA Playoffs netted ESPN’s top six most-viewed basketball games (college or pro) of all time:

• Western Conference Finals, Game 4 (L.A. Lakers/Denver, 5/25) – 6,746,000 households
• Western Conference Finals, Game 5 (Denver/Los Angeles, 5/27) – 6,357,000 households
• Western Conference Finals, Game 6 (L.A. Lakers/Denver, 5/29) – 5,813,000 households
• Western Conference Finals, Game 1 (Denver/L.A. Lakers, 5/19) – 5,688,000 households
• Western Conference Finals, Game 2 (Denver/L.A. Lakers, 5/21) – 5,640,000 households
• Conference Semifinals, Game 6 (L.A. Lakers/Houston, 5/14) – 5,306,000 households

Source: ESPN

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