The NBA Playoffs continued their dominance of the cable ratings in the week of April 30. Coverage of second-round series on TNT and ESPN took up the top 10 spots in the adults 18-49 rankings and nine of the top 10 in total viewers.
In both measures, Game 2 of the Warriors-Pelicans series came in first. It recorded a 2.2 rating among adults 18-49 and 5.65 million viewers.
Top 25 original cable shows (including ties) in adults 18-49 for April 30-May 6, 2018
| Rank | Show | Net | Day | Time | 18-49 rating |
18-49 viewers (000s)*
|
| 1 | NBA PLAYOFFS – PELICANS/WARRIORS GM 2 | TNT | Tues. | 10:56 PM | 2.2 | 2,790 |
| 2 | NBA PLAYOFFS – CAVALIERS/RAPTORS GM 1 | TNT | Tues. | 8:00 PM | 2.1 | 2,701 |
| 3 | NBA PLAYOFFS – 76ERS/CELTICS GM 2 | TNT | Thurs. | 8:40 PM | 2.0 | 2,573 |
| 4 | NBA PLAYOFFS – 76ERS/CELTICS GM 1 | TNT | Mon. | 8:13 PM | 1.8 | 2,342 |
| 5 | NBA PLAYOFFS – JAZZ/ROCKETS GM 2 | TNT | Weds. | 8:13 PM | 1.6 | 2,048 |
| NBA PLAYOFFS – ROCKETS/JAZZ GM 4 | TNT | Sun. | 8:00 PM | 1.6 | 2,048 | |
| 7 | NBA PLAYOFFS – WARRIORS/PELICANS GM 3 | ESPN | Fri. | 8:00 PM | 1.4 | 1,779 |
| NBA PLAYOFFS – CELTICS/76ERS GM 3 | ESPN | Sat. | 5:04 PM | 1.4 | 1,754 | |
| 9 | NBA PLAYOFFS – ROCKETS/JAZZ GM 3 | ESPN | Fri. | 10:34 PM | 1.3 | 1,715 |
| 10 | NBA PLAYOFFS – CAVALIERS/RAPTORS GM 2 | ESPN | Thurs. | 6:03 PM | 1.2 | 1,587 |
| 11 | WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | Mon. | 9:00 PM | 1.1 | 1,446 |
| SPORTSCENTER | ESPN | Sat. | 7:57 PM | 1.1 | 1,446 | |
| WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | Mon. | 8:00 PM | 1.1 | 1,382 | |
| LOVE & HIP HOP ATLANTA | VH1 | Mon. | 8:00 PM | 1.1 | 1,344 | |
| INSIDE THE NBA PLAYOFFS | TNT | Mon. | 10:45 PM | 1.1 | 1,344 | |
| 16 | WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | Mon. | 10:00 PM | 1.0 | 1,318 |
| INSIDE THE NBA PLAYOFFS | TNT | Weds. | 10:50 PM | 1.0 | 1,318 | |
| INSIDE THE NBA PLAYOFFS | TNT | Thurs. | 11:12 PM | 1.0 | 1,267 | |
| INSIDE THE NBA PLAYOFFS | TNT | Tues. | 1:13 AM | 1.0 | 1,216 | |
| 20 | JERSEY SHORE FAMILY VACATION | MTV | Thurs. | 8:00 PM | 0.9 | 1,114 |
| INSIDE THE NBA PLAYOFFS | TNT | Sun. | 10:33 PM | 0.9 | 1,101 | |
| FEAR THE WALKING DEAD | AMC | Sun. | 9:00 PM | 0.9 | 1,088 | |
| 23 | NBA PREGAME | TNT | Mon. | 8:00 PM | 0.8 | 1,037 |
| WWE SMACKDOWN | USA | Tues. | 8:00 PM | 0.8 | 986 | |
| 25 | TEYANA & IMAN | VH1 | Mon. | 9:00 PM | 0.7 | 947 |
| NBA PREGAME | TNT | Thurs. | 8:30 PM | 0.7 | 896 | |
| SPORTSCENTER | ESPN | Fri. | 12:55 AM | 0.7 | 858 |
*Adults 18-49 viewer figures are approximate.
Top 25 original cable shows in total viewers for April 30-May 6, 2018
| Rank | Show | Net | Day | Time |
Viewers (000s)
|
| 1 | NBA PLAYOFFS – PELICANS/WARRIORS GM 2 | TNT | Tues. | 10:56 PM | 5,652 |
| 2 | NBA PLAYOFFS – CAVALIERS/RAPTORS GM 1 | TNT | Tues. | 8:00 PM | 5,587 |
| 3 | NBA PLAYOFFS – 76ERS/CELTICS GM 2 | TNT | Thurs. | 8:40 PM | 5,088 |
| 4 | NBA PLAYOFFS – 76ERS/CELTICS GM 1 | TNT | Mon. | 8:13 PM | 4,689 |
| 5 | NBA PLAYOFFS – ROCKETS/JAZZ GM 4 | TNT | Sun. | 8:00 PM | 4,350 |
| 6 | NBA PLAYOFFS – JAZZ/ROCKETS GM 2 | TNT | Weds. | 8:13 PM | 4,305 |
| 7 | NBA PLAYOFFS – WARRIORS/PELICANS GM 3 | ESPN | Fri. | 8:00 PM | 4,160 |
| 8 | NBA PLAYOFFS – CELTICS/76ERS GM 3 | ESPN | Sat. | 5:04 PM | 3,619 |
| 9 | HANNITY | FNC | Weds. | 9:00 PM | 3,490 |
| 10 | NBA PLAYOFFS – ROCKETS/JAZZ GM 3 | ESPN | Fri. | 10:34 PM | 3,472 |
| 11 | HANNITY | FNC | Mon. | 9:00 PM | 3,245 |
| 12 | NBA PLAYOFFS – CAVALIERS/RAPTORS GM 2 | ESPN | Thurs. | 6:03 PM | 3,233 |
| 13 | HANNITY | FNC | Thurs. | 9:00 PM | 3,208 |
| 14 | WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | Mon. | 9:00 PM | 3,184 |
| 15 | WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | Mon. | 8:00 PM | 3,136 |
| 16 | THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW | MSNBC | Thurs. | 9:00 PM | 3,025 |
| 17 | HANNITY | FNC | Tues. | 9:00 PM | 2,977 |
| 18 | WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | Mon. | 10:00 PM | 2,878 |
| 19 | THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW | MSNBC | Mon. | 9:00 PM | 2,782 |
| 20 | NASCAR M.E. CUP RACING – DOVER | FS1 | Sun. | 1:45 PM | 2,774 |
| 21 | TUCKER CARLSON TONIGHT | FNC | Mon. | 8:00 PM | 2,770 |
| 22 | SPORTSCENTER | ESPN | Sat. | 7:57 PM | 2,765 |
| 23 | HANNITY | FNC | Fri. | 9:00 PM | 2,709 |
| 24 | THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW | MSNBC | Weds. | 9:00 PM | 2,688 |
| 25 | TUCKER CARLSON TONIGHT | FNC | Thurs. | 8:00 PM | 2,680 |
All ratings are live + same-day. Source: The Nielsen Company.
