Pacers get best TV rating for a season opener since 2005

Nat Newell | IndyStar

Show Caption Hide Caption Insiders impressed with Pacers win Insider J. Michael and columnist Gregg Doyel discuss the impressive win by the Pacers.

The Indiana Pacers' season opening victory over the Memphis Grizzlies drew a 5.4 rating, the best since 2005 and a 44 percent increase over last season, according to Fox Sports Indiana. That translates to an average of 54,000 households watching the game at any one time, according to Nielsen Media Research. The game peaked at a 6.3 rating from 9 to 9:30 p.m., making it the highest-rated program in Indianapolis.

Last season, Pacers' ratings were up 18 percent over the 2016-17 season.

The game also drew a sellout crowd of 17,923, an increase of last season's 15,008 at the 140-131 victory over Brooklyn.

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