NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC Debut: Most-Watched, Highest-Rated Non-Christmas Game of Regular-Season Across All Nets

Won the Night Across Prime-Time Television in All Key Adult and Male Demos

The debut edition of NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC presented by La Quinta (Jan. 23) delivered the most-watched and highest-rated non-Christmas game of the regular season across all networks, according Nielsen. The broadcast, which saw the Chicago Bulls defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 96-83, averaged nearly four million viewers (3,916,000, p2+), peaking with 4,534,000 viewers (p2+) from 10:45-11 p.m. ET. It generated a 2.4 U.S. household rating.

NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC propelled the network to win the night across prime-time broadcast and cable television on Saturday in all key adult and male demos, including 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.

NBA Countdown, which preceded the game at 8 p.m., averaged 2,437,000 viewers (p2+) and a 1.6 U.S. household rating. In both metrics this is the best for a regular-season, non-Christmas NBA Countdown show since March 11, 2012.

Looking ahead

ESPN will generally televise NBA games across four days per week for the majority of the regular season. Here's the upcoming schedule, which includes details about this week's edition of NBA Saturday Primetime on ABC: the San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan visit the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James at 8:30 p.m.

Date Time (ET) Telecast/Commentators Network (s)

Wed., Jan. 27 7:30 p.m. NBA Countdown charged by Mountain Dew Doris Burke, Jalen Rose, Chauncey Billups ESPN, WatchESPN 8 p.m. Houston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs presented by State Farm Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Israel Gutierrez ESPN, WatchESPN 10:30 p.m. Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors presented by State Farm Dave Pasch, Jon Barry, J.A. Adande ESPN, WatchESPN

Fri., Jan 29 1:30 a.m. NBA Tonight Doug Kezirian, Tim Legler ESPN2, WatchESPN 8 p.m. NBA Coast to Coast Doug Kezirian, Brad Daugherty, Amin Elhassan, Ryen Russillo, J.A. Adande ESPN2, WatchESPN

Sat., Jan 30 1 a.m. NBA Tonight Doug Kezirian, Brad Daugherty ESPN2, WatchESPN 8 p.m. NBA Countdown presented by Straight Talk Wireless Sage Steele, Doug Collins, Jalen Rose ABC, WatchESPN 8:30 p.m. San Antonio Spurs at Cleveland Cavaliers presented by La Quinta Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson, Heather Cox Radio: Marc Kestecher, Jon Barry ABC, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio, WatchESPN

Sun., Jan 31 12:30 a.m. NBA Tonight Doug Kezirian, Ryen Russillo ESPN2, WatchESPN 3 p.m. NBA Countdown presented by Straight Talk Wireless Sage Steele, Doug Collins, Jalen Rose ABC, WatchESPN 3:30 p.m. Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Clippers presented by BBVA Dave Pasch, Hubie Brown, Chris Broussard Radio: Kevin Calabro, P.J. Carlesimo, Stephen A. Smith ABC, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio, WatchESPN