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Sixers’ playoff win over the Raptors sets ESPN record in Philadelphia

The Sixers are heading into Game 7 against the Toronto Raptors with a healthy following on television, as fans in and around Philadelphia are watching in record numbers.

Sixers guard Jimmy Butler raises his arms with teammate forward James Ennis III after Butler made a basket late in the first-half against the Toronto Raptors during the Eastern Conference playoff semifinals on Thursday, May 9.
Sixers guard Jimmy Butler raises his arms with teammate forward James Ennis III after Butler made a basket late in the first-half against the Toronto Raptors during the Eastern Conference playoff semifinals on Thursday, May 9.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer / YONG KIM / Staff Photographer

The Sixers are heading into Game 7 against the Toronto Raptors with a head full of steam and a healthy following on television, as fans in and around Philadelphia are watching in record numbers.

Thursday’s Game 6 win over the Raptors in the Eastern Conference semifinals drew a 14.3 metered market rating in the Philadelphia market, making it the highest-rated NBA game ESPN has ever aired in Philadelphia. Prior to this season, the previous record was set during the Sixers’ 2017 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, which drew a 8.9 rating.

ESPN began airing NBA games in 1982, and has carried the league regularly since 2002.

Nationally, the game garnered a 3.6 rating, up nine percent over a comparable Game 6 matchup during the 2017 Western Conference semifinals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets, which had 3.3 rating. (ESPN did not air a comparable Game 6 contest in 2018.)

The Sixers have been quite a television draw this season. NBC Sports Philadelphia averaged a 2.73 household rating (about 77,000 households) across both channels, the highest-rated season since 2011-12 and a 12 percent increase over last year, according to Nielsen numbers. Jimmy Butler’s debut with the team in November was the network’s most-popular regular-season game, drawing a 6.24 household rating (nearly 176,000 households).

During the team’s first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets, NBC Sports Philadelphia averaged a 4.89 rating (about 178,000 households), beating out TNT’s coverage in Philadelphia head-to-head by 34 percent, according to the network.

NBC Sports Philadelphia also said its streaming ratings were up 50 percent compared to last season, with broadcasts averaging 18,000 unique users. During the first round of the playoffs, that number jumped to 27,000 uniques.

The high ratings come after NBC Sports Philadelphia tinkered with its broadcast ahead of the season, replacing longtime Sixers sideline reporter Molly Sullivan with Serena Winters. The network also launched a new Sixers post-game show, Sixers Outsiders, which is hosted by The Mike Missanelli Show producer Tyrone Johnson and Krystle Rich.

Despite not carrying any games, NBC Sports Philadelphia will continue to air Sixers Outsiders, Sixers Pregame Live, and Sixers Postgame Live throughout the playoffs.

Game 7 between the Sixers and the Raptors will air Sunday night at 7 p.m. on TNT. Calling the game will be longtime play-by-play announcer Kevin Harlan and analyst Greg Anthony. Ros Gold-Onwude will handle sideline reporting duties.