Chicago, IL (January 26, 2012) – Comcast SportsNet, the television home for the most games and most comprehensive coverage of the NBA Central Division/Eastern Conference first place Chicago Bulls, delivered its highest regular season Bulls game rating in network history last evening – an 8.73 household rating for its live coverage of the Bulls home contest against the Indiana Pacers.
Comcast SportsNet attracted approx. 305,000 households for the entire game and posted a 12.13 peak rating during the 9:15 p.m. quarter-hour (over 423,700 households). The 8.73 single game regular season ratings record on Comcast SportsNet shatters the network’s previous all-time Bulls regular season high set earlier this month on January 3 vs. Atlanta (7.66 household rating). The Bulls-Pacers game also gave the network its all-time, highest-rated Bulls regular season game rating in the key advertising demo category of Adults 25-54 (5.13).
Plus, the 8.73 household rating now ranks as the #1 highest-rated regular season game – for any team – in Comcast SportsNet history, eclipsing the previous record of an 8.30 household rating for the Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers telecast from July 28, 2008. Source for all ratings information is provided by Nielsen Media Research.
Comcast SportsNet was also the #1-highest rated television network in the Chicago market from 7:00-10:30 p.m. among Chicago DMA households last night – which includes the Bulls-Indiana game telecast, Kia Bulls Post Game Live and SportsNet Central presented by GMC, along with holding the market’s top rank among Adults 25-54 from 8:00-11:00 p.m. The network was also #1 in the market for seven-straight hours (5:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.) in the following demo categories: Men 18-34, Men 18-49, Men 25-54 and Adults 18-34.
So far this season, the Bulls on Comcast SportsNet are currently averaging a 6.25 household rating, a year-to-date increase of 58% compared to last season through 13 telecasts (average rating so far this season for Adults 25-54 is a 3.52, up 112% from last season). In addition, Kia Bulls Post Game Live ratings are up 50% year-to-date.
Comcast SportsNet’s next Bulls telecast airs Wednesday, February 1 as the Bulls travel to face the Philadelphia 76ers (tip-off at 6:00 p.m. featuring Neil Funk and Stacey King on the call).