Heat-Pacers Thriller Nets 8.2 Million Viewers

TNT's Game 1 coverage is top 2013 NBA postseason telecast

By Mike Reynolds, Multichannel News -- Broadcasting & Cable, 5/23/2013 3:04:00 PM

TNT's coverage of the Miami Heat's one-point, overtime win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals was the top telecast of the 2013 NBA postseason.

With the game decided on LeBron James's buzzer-beating, left-handed layup, TNT scored a 5.3 household rating and 8.2 million viewers, according to Nielsen fast nationals data. The May 22 contest was the highest-rated and most-viewed 2013 NBA playoff game to date and the top telecast on TV -- broadcast or cable -- on Wednesday night.

The Pacers-Heat telecast was up 10% in U.S. household rating versus a 4.8 mark, and 6% among total viewers compared with 7.8 million watchers, when measured against the network's telecast of Game 1 of the 2012 Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs.

Last night's telecast generated a 24.4 metered market rating in Miami and a 20.2 rating in Indianapolis. Miami is the 16th largest DMA among the 56 metered markets, while Indianapolis ranks 24th.