• by Wayne Friedman , May 21, 2008

When it comes to sports, TV ratings are soaring--especially for the NBA, which continues to score big numbers for its playoffs so far.

In virtually all viewer categories, both ABC and ESPN ratings have skyrocketed anywhere from 28% to 43%, depending on the demographic group.

Through nine broadcasts on ABC, the network's average household rating is 3.7, up 28% from 2.9 a year ago for eight games. ESPN has seen a 27% hike to a 2.8 number (16 telecasts) versus a 2.2 a year ago for 14 telecasts.

Young male demographics showed the best results: For ABC, its numbers for men 18-34 are up 41% to 1,136,000. ESPN's numbers for males 18-34 improved 43% to 826,000.

Other ratings for male viewers also showed strength: ABC's numbers for men 18-49 are up 36% to 2,096,000, and its numbers for 25-54 males are up 39% to 1,963,000. ESPN has witnessed 36% gains in men 18-49 to 1,474,000, and its numbers for men 25-54 soared 40% to 1,341,000.

ABC got a boost from Sunday's close battle in the conference semifinal game seven between the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers. It grabbed a 5.7 rating and 6,421,000 household impressions--the fourth most-viewed non-finals NBA Playoff broadcast ever on the network.

Earlier-round NBA playoffs on TNT gave that network a 10% hike to a 2.1 household rating for 22 first-round games. Just as with ABC and ESPN, TNT showed its greatest gains with men 18-34, up 25% over a year ago.