So far this year, NBA networks -- through the conference finals -- have pulled in $436.7 million, up 12% from $390.2 million a year ago, according to iSpot.tv. Top national TV advertisers include: Kia, at $14.3 million; Samsung Mobile, with $14.0 million; Taco Bell, at $11.6 miliion; State Farm, with $10.6 million; and American Express at $9.7 million.
TNT, which aired the most playoff games at 42 contests, pulled in some $257.2 million -- up versus the $224.6 million the network pulled in a year ago.
Through 42 playoff games this year, TNT averaged 4.7 million viewers -- up 12% versus a year ago.
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The seventh and deciding game of the Western Conference finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Oklahoma Thunder earned a massive Nielsen 16 million average total viewers -- the highest NBA game ever on cable TV and the best overall rating ever for a program on TNT.
This year, Kia ($11.5 million), Samsung Mobile ($10.0 million); American Express ($9.1 million); GEICO ($8.8 million) and Autotrader ($6.6 million) were TNT’s top five TV NBA Playoff advertisers.
For 25 NBA playoff games this year, ESPN pulled in $109.1 million in national advertising -- Toyota ($5.4 million), State Farm ($3.1 million); Taco Bell ($2.9 million); Universal ($2.6 million) and Samsung Mobile ($2.5 million) were the biggest advertisers during the period. In 2015, ESPN pulled in $107.5 million in national advertising.
For its nine NBA playoff games, ABC totaled $65.97 million in national advertising -- with Honda ($2.6 million); Taco Bell ($2.4 million); Universal Pictures ($2.3 million); Ford ($1.7 million); Samsung Mobile ($1.50 million); and Hyundai ($1.45 million) as the top advertisers. A year ago, ABC pulled in $52.7 million.
Starting Thursday, ABC will again air the NBA Finals series. The Golden State Warriors do battle with Cleveland Cavaliers -- a repeat of the series a year ago where the Warriors won in six games.