"Decision" the 3rd highest rated program on cable this year

[Franchise3]

NEW YORK -- The Nielsen Co. estimates 9.95 million people watched LeBron James announce on ESPN that he's leaving Cleveland to play for the Miami Heat, making it the third-most-watched program on cable television this year.

"The Decision" that aired Thursday night ranks behind the 12.3 million who watched the NFL Pro Bowl and 11.2 million who watched an episode of "ICarly" on Nickelodeon in January.

The special was of particular interest in Cleveland, where an estimated one in four homes with televisions tuned in.

James' future can't yet compare to Kobe Bryant's present, however. More than 28 million people watched Bryant win his fifth championship last month in the seventh game of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5371061

[RoxSqaud]

Glad it's over.

[Rocket River]

Originally Posted by RoxSqaud Glad it's over.

OH! But it is not over.

I would not be surprised if they did not have a NBA equivalent
of HARD KNOCKS that follows the Miami Heat next year

Heard it here 1st

Rocket River

[dragonz]

Originally Posted by Rocket River OH! But it is not over. I would not be surprised if they did not have a NBA equivalent of HARD KNOCKS that follows the Miami Heat next year Heard it here 1st Rocket River

Dwade and Chris Bosh had documentary crews with them all the free agency, I think they will come up with something.

[Juxtaposed Jolt]

Originally Posted by Franchise3 NEW YORK -- The Nielsen Co. estimates 9.95 million people watched LeBron James announce on ESPN that he's leaving Cleveland to play for the Miami Heat, making it the third-most-watched program on cable television this year. "The Decision" that aired Thursday night ranks behind the 12.3 million who watched the NFL Pro Bowl and 11.2 million who watched an episode of "ICarly" on Nickelodeon in January. The special was of particular interest in Cleveland, where an estimated one in four homes with televisions tuned in. James' future can't yet compare to Kobe Bryant's present, however. More than 28 million people watched Bryant win his fifth championship last month in the seventh game of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5371061

King can't compete with a princess.

[Jugdish]

Pro Bowl? Seriously?

[MadMax]

When MNF hits ESPN airwaves again this year in the Fall, it will occupy all of the top 10 spots for cable programs.

[m_cable]

Originally Posted by Jugdish Pro Bowl? Seriously?

Pro Bowl was aired the week before the super bowl this year, so there was an appetite and an interest in football.

[emjohn]

Originally Posted by Rocket River OH! But it is not over. I would not be surprised if they did not have a NBA equivalent of HARD KNOCKS that follows the Miami Heat next year

I suspect we'll see this repeated in the future - this just became the new bar for wannabe megastars to establish themselves as being the biggest in the game.

If TO wasn't washed he would absolutely make sure he had a FA decision primetime special.

It's sad how badly marketing image has eclipsed winning in priorities.

[rocketfan83]

Higher than the NFL draft? Thats pretty suprising......

[tofu--]

Reality shows ahoy...

[conquistador#11]

I'm photoshopping a Jersey Shore spinoff as I type. "MIAMI SHORE" featuring Lebron "the decision" and Chris "OMGz".

It makes me appreciate Kevin Durant even more. Maybe there is still hope for the future.

[Smokey]

That is sad and funny the three highest rated cable programs thus far are the Pro Bowl, iCarly, and The Decision LMAO.

[DontTradeOswalt]

I thought for sure the T.O. Show was going to be no.1 or no.2

[TheFreak]

Amazing that a now second fiddle attracts so much attention. Amazing that you would attract so much attention and then announce you wanted to be a second fiddle.

[tracymclady]

and out of the three the only one i saw was the icarly episode =]

[dragonz]

and I am pretty sure Dan Gilbert's letter to fans is the most read owner letter this year in all the sports.

[roslolian]

So now we know why LBJ made all that hoopla over his Fa signing:
-It made good ratings


Look, I know it was pretty classless of him to air it like that, however at the end of the day the NBA is an entertainment business, otherwise why the need for all the cheerleaders, the pre, post, half time shows? Y'all need to get some perspective, it's not like people are gonna die or lose anything valuable to them by LBJ announcing he's leaving. All that crap about him being an ingrate or whatever, IMHO he's paid his dues to his city the past 7 years already. Truth is nobody cared about Cleveland before LBJ got there, and I suspect no one will care again now that he's left. Ultimately he came up short, however giving his team the top seed and taking his team to a finals as well as multiple playoff appearances is already more than other players do in their entire playing careers.

At the end of the day, I suspect the "decision" was more of a PR stunt and money-making move over him wanting to rake his hometown through the coals, a lot like MJ's spacejam back in the day. The only difference is MJ's PR/money-making method endeared him to the fans, while LBJ's did the exact opposite. Maybe that's the diff between going to college and and jumping straight to the NBA lol.

[QdoubleA]

...the fu*k is Icarly and why is it rated as highly as the pro bowl??

[francis 4 prez]

Originally Posted by TheFreak Amazing that a now second fiddle attracts so much attention. Amazing that you would attract so much attention and then announce you wanted to be a second fiddle.

it's almost like he's not really a second fiddle.