Yao vs Yi: I Know How China Will Be Spending It's Saturday Morning

Yao vs Yi: I Know How China Will Be Spending It's Saturday Morning

Just a meaningless early season game between the Rockets and the Bucks that will go unwatched by most in the United States. Oh, except for the fact it might be the most viewed NBA game in the world. Ever.

It's Yao Ming vs Yi Jianlian. Can you feel it? OK, so maybe you're not as excited as the rest of the world.

"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.

Yao's first game against Shaquille O'Neal in 2002 drew an estimated audience of 220 million and the largest cable television ratings in the United States for a regular-season game since the 1995 comeback of Magic Johnson."

Think how excited we are to watch the Super Bowl, and then add even more sizzle to it. That's the mindset in China tonight. I still won't pay attention, but I'm definitely interested in seeing the TV numbers.