TNT’s NBA playoff coverage tops ‘Roots’ with record ratings

Executives at A&E Networks have high hopes riding on its reboot of Alex Haley’s slavery saga “Roots” on History. But like the Oklahoma City Thunder, the first night’s ratings were done in by Stephen Curry.

The two-hour premiere of “Roots,” which aired across four cable networks – History, A&E, Lifetime and LMN – drew 5.3 million viewers from 9 to 11 p.m.

The ratings also fell well-short of the audience for History’s last high-profile scripted project, “Hatfield & McCoys.” The miniseries starring Kevin Costner opened with 13.9 million viewers on Memorial Day 2012.

But “Roots” faced some tough competition on the night. Nielsen data shows that an average of 15.9 million viewers watched TNT’s Monday telecast of the Western Conference NBA playoff final with the Golden State Warriors’ 96-88 victory over the Thunder, giving Curry’s team a 4-3 win of the series.

TNT’s playoff game, which aired in prime-time in the Eastern and Central time zones, was the most watched NBA telecast ever carried on a cable network. Turner Sports has covered NBA games on TNT and TBS since the 1989-90 season. ESPN first showed NBA contests in 1982.

The total viewership for the “Roots” premiere went up to 8.5 million when two rebroadcasts on the night are added in. A&E Networks said in a statement that it expects a further lift when delayed viewing on DVR and video-on-demand are added. The new eight-hour adaptation of author Haley’s family history of a young African warrior sold into slavery, airs through Thursday.

History’s “Roots” is a new – and more brutally realistic – version of one of the most monumental television events in history. When the original miniseries aired on ABC in January 1977, the finale was watched by over 50% of all U.S. homes with a television during an era when viewers had just a few over-the-air channels.

The new “Roots” kicked off on a Memorial Day holiday against a far more competitive field of viewer choices, including a deciding NBA playoff game that featured Curry, whose success on the court throughout the season has captivated sports viewers.

A&E Networks is being upfront about having aspirations for “Roots” that go beyond ratings. The company has full ownership of the $50-million project, produced by its in-house production unit and is counting on it to deliver awards and critical accolades. A&E Networks President and CEO Nancy Dubuc has said she wants her networks to be known for the kind of talked-about scripted programs that have helped distinguish other cable networks in a crowded TV landscape.

The new “Roots” has generated discussion and awareness of the nation’s ugly history regarding slavery. But it’s also had a notable detractor. Actor and rap artist Snoop Dogg posted a video on social media urging viewers to skip the program. He said it was time for series about successful African Americans set in the present day.

In a statement that accompanied the first night ratings, Dubuc said “Roots” has “helped shape the discourse around race and identity at a time when it is needed more than ever. We are looking forward to audiences continuing to experience this powerful and important event over the next three nights.”

[email protected]

@SteveBattaglio

UPDATES: