Also, AFAIK, One HD traditionally rates fairly low compared to mainstream channels and so it might be difficult to spot them in a top-shows report.

hopefully a few new people watched the game on One last night and have a new found interest for the summer season.

I have introduced a few of my mates to the game of basketball via One HD. Sat them down Friday and as the Tigers are the only Vic club they all decided to adopt them as their NEW CLUB. It only took a few beers and the first quarter for the instant coaches to come out!!! They have already sacked 2 players! Tough judges these converts. They are also pondering either more beers or a change of club for next week. Either way, there is at least 4 more fans to the game. Good on you ONE HD.

I thought one of the big weaknesses of Fox's coverage was they often didnt replay some of the great plays, so they were easily forgotten. ONE have been replaying them a lot from a number different angles. Presentation is everything.

Plays of the week please!!!

Walker's around the back dunk on the break #2, with #1 being Winder's Alley-Opp three-point play.

I think Corletto might give number one a nudge, and McCullough's drive against Nevill where neither took a backward step was pretty special.

A few big blocks in both games too were pretty nice.

I also enjoyed, from memory, Matt Knight getting the block at one end and then finishing the break with a jam at the other.

One thing is for sure though, after this first round the NBL has alot of good footage to use for its next lot of TV ads hopefully.

Good call Isaac.

Top 5 plays of the week would therefore for mine be:

#1 Winder alley-oop
#2 Walker around the back dunk (more skill)
#3 Corletto from mid-court (more luck)
#4 Winder vs Nevill near dunk/block layup
#5 Matt Knight at both ends

How does that sound then?

LC,

I think you will find Winder was a surprise omission from Friday night's game, and it wa McCullough who went straight at him ;-P

And your top 5 misses out Winder's massive block on Redhage (how many times did Redhage get blocked in that game anyway? Would have been at least three times).

My top five, from the two games:

#1 Winder with the alley and +1
#2 Corletto for Threeeeee!
#3 McCullough taking it hard to the rack over Nevill.
#4 Walker round the back dunk
#5 Winder block on Redhage

Walker was top two for sure. Great move from a rookie.

Redhage had three blocks for, two against.

I think you could do a top ten from those two games. Was anyone at the other games this round? Any big plays to report - apparently the Ervin to Gruber alley oop was nice.

From Michael Scibilia:

#NBL ratings are in...Adelaide V Perth averaged 73,000 viewers with a peak of 172,000. 5th most-watched program out of all sports channels.

Not sure if it was due 2 NBL, but ONE's highest share last nite was in Adelaide (1.9%). Perth was equal-2nd w/ Bris (1.7). Melb 1.4, Syd 1.2

Now the question is, is that what they were hoping for? surely it will pick up as the season carries on.

I was really disappointed this morning when i got up and was watching the news and no one mentions anything about the NBL, they will go on about all these other random sports that no one would care about and then there is no basketball. pretty pathetic if you ask me. I know Ten is doing there bit i see them including NBL all the time now.

That is an excellent result. Considering last year's average on Fox was apparently less than 15,000 and the long term Fox average had been around 30,000 with the best ever at something like 65,000 for game five of the 08 GF, that is outstanding.

Furthermore, I think 73,000 is well above ONE's average viewer numbers. Would love to see the numbers for Friday night.

did anyone notice how ugly and hard to read the score ticker was?? terrible

actually yes i did notice that woodrho as i also recorded the game as well as going to it. we have all this digital tv and HD stuff yet the score ticker on the screen was so pix-elated it looked like something from the original frogger or something

Is it roughly 2000 households or something like that, from which the ratings figures are extrapolated, or guestimated!

My brain was switched off...LOL!

More importantly I guess, is how the traffic on Hoops.com.au is going following the NBL's return to FTA TV?

36ers press release with quotes from Ch 10 mentioned:

Friday nights 130,000 viewers of the Melbourne/ Sydney clash.

Network Ten's general manager sport, David White said: "This is an excellent result for the first round and reflects the work that went into launching the season by all involved. These early ratings are extremely encouraging and we look forward to playing a part in the continued growth of this exciting sport."

That would make it one of the most watched shows on the sports channels I think. Excellent start.

Ok so the 130k figure is extrapolated from the 2000 households with transmission gadgets?

How would 130k compare to an average AFL game? How about average daily viewers for a Test match? It would be great to see a comparison if someone knows.

On the highlight plays, you guys forgot Taj's other play when he blew by a despairing Burston on the baseline and threw one down from a tough angle.

Loved Taj's attempted dunk on Nevill as well. For me that was #1, purely because of the explosion and the fact Nevill contested it.

I thought it was a good start on the weekend because of the highlight plays in both games. The best thing the players can do for ratings is to BE AUDACIOUS. Lucas Walker looked just that with his cameo on Friday. Apart from his dunk, he had a couple of nice blocks and a monster rebound that stood out.

Hopefully Abercrombie will get out and look to do the same when the Breakers hit FTA!

Good point Beantown, that McCullough under the backboard dunk was a definite top 5 contender.

The average AFL game rates around 400,000 nationally.

Just to confirm that anon post above (which might've been from One/Ten themselves), the head of marketing for sport at One/Ten has contacted me to say as much - that the graphic was an issue for the first weekend but will be fixed for future rounds.

Paul was that 400k average audience?

A good start should hopefully mean more faith from One and Ten, more coverage, and even bigger audiences. Thanks for the comparison Anon.