Enormous Audience for Yi vs Yao
Most of you reading this probably won’t be tuning in, because really, a Bucks game in November is not the easiest thing to stomach, but tonight’s Bucks/Rockets tilt could very well be the most watched basketball game this season. And most of the audience will reside outside of the U.S.
That’s because two of China’s biggest sports icons (Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian) will be facing off in the NBA for the first time. From the Houston Chronicle:
The game will be on 19 networks in China, including CCTV-5, Guangdong TV, Guangzhou TV, and ESPN Star Sports in Hong Kong and Taiwan. It also will be available live through two Webcasters.
Though ratings estimates in China are difficult and vary widely, today’s game is said to be certain to draw 150 million viewers and could reach 250 million. CCTV-5 alone is available in 210 million households.
200 million viewers for a meaningless game in November?! Stunning.
Maybe David Stern knew what he was doing all along when he began to aggressively globalize this League nearly 20 years ago.
(HT: Awful Announcing)
20 Responses to “Enormous Audience for Yi vs Yao”
Nov.9 at 4:03 pm
Mr. Bob Dobolina says:
first
Nov.9 at 4:25 pm
Ryan Jones says:
China is populated.
Nov.9 at 4:25 pm
BETCATS says:
wow. 200 million. thats a big number
Nov.9 at 4:28 pm
BETCATS says:
but imagine if they was both from India
Nov.9 at 4:31 pm
Rasheedionics says:
Completely justified… Who can forget great Yao vs Wang Zhi-Zhi battles of the past…
Nov.9 at 4:34 pm
Goody says:
Great piece for real. Too bad they have to watch the game at like 7 in the morning but it all good. Yi shall see…
Nov.9 at 4:35 pm
Mike Riccketts says:
Love the rockets. A lot of folks sleep but yall need to wakey wakey.
Nov.9 at 4:57 pm
Gumdrop says:
I really hope Yi doesn’t get voted to the All Star team.
Nov.9 at 5:18 pm
Hoop Dreamz says:
Ryan Jones is good at understatements
Nov.9 at 5:49 pm
albie1kenobi says:
i’d laugh my ass off if both of them are fouled out in the 1st half. 200 mil viewers quickly become 2. maybe 20.
Nov.9 at 6:02 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
yao will dominate the kid
Nov.9 at 6:02 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
even though eazy yi isnt as young as were told
Nov.9 at 9:06 pm
Sesa says:
Goody, it’s 7 in the morning on Saturday.
Nov.10 at 6:01 am
Sesa says:
It ended up wasn’t broadcasted on ESPN. I’m hoping to see T-Mac and Redd though.
Nov.10 at 12:56 pm
phunkykarma says:
One can only imagine the audience when they meet at the finals.
Nov.11 at 8:34 pm
DACRE says:
Do you think these two will be the starting centres for the all star game…? should a chinese vote should be worth half… an idea… O_o
Nov.11 at 10:18 pm
Charles Horton says:
Hey DACRE, I feel your point. The best players should be playing. Unfortunately, as long as fans vote, only the most POPULAR players will start. Still, 1/2 a vote? Can’t the Chinese even get the 3/5 vote that slaves got back in the day? Damn….
Nov.11 at 10:19 pm
Will Lee says:
official stats said 400 mil around the world altogether.
Nov.12 at 11:29 am
atomic sushi says:
SLAM should do a Yao Ming cover now. He deserves it.
Nov.12 at 5:22 pm
tt says:
why should chinese people get half a vote? The all stars game is all about the fans getting to see their favorite players & besides everybody’s opininion of “best player” is different.