Last night’s Game 2 of the NBA Finals took primetime with a 10.5 overnight rating. It marks the second time in as many games that the NBA won primetime over all competition. Let’s take a look at the ESPN press release touting the ratings on ABC.
NBA Finals Game 2 Propels ABC to Win the Night with 10.5 Overnight Rating
21st Consecutive Time Finals Generate Highest-Rated Program of the Night
The NBA Finals Game 2 on ABC – in which Dallas pulled off a thrilling fourth quarter rally to defeat Miami 95-93 – delivered a 10.5 overnight rating and was the highest-rated program of the night in prime time, leading ABC to win the night (according to Nielsen). It is the 21st consecutive time The Finals have generated the highest-rated program of the night. The 10.5 overnight rating was the second highest-rated Game 2 in the last seven years.
Last night’s Game 2 was up 15 percent compared to a 9.1 rating for Game 2 in 2006, when these same two teams met in The Finals. In the last seven years, the game only trailed last year’s 10.9 overnight rating for Game 2 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.
In Miami, the game registered a 35.1 metered market rating, the highest-rated NBA game ever locally (records through 2003). The game generated a 25.6 metered market rating in Dallas.
ABC’s NBA Countdown pregame show posted a 3.5 overnight rating, up 25 percent over the comparable 2.8 rating last year.
The Finals on ABC continue with Game 3 Sunday, June 5, at 8 p.m. ET. Mike Breen calls The Finals on ABC with analysts Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy and reporter Doris Burke. The Finals are also available on ESPN Radio (Mike Tirico and Hall of Famers Dr. Jack Ramsay and Hubie Brown) and ESPN 3D (Mark Jones and Tim Legler for Game 3). Coverage will begin with the NBA Countdown pregame show at 7:30 p.m., hosted by Stuart Scott with Hall of Famer Magic Johnson and analysts Jon Barry and Michael Wilbon.
And for good measure, here’s the final ratings for Game 1 which I could not post Wednesday.
NBA Finals on ABC: Highest-Rated and Most-Viewed Game 1 Since 2004
The NBA Finals Game 1 on ABC – in which Miami defeated Dallas 92-84 – delivered a 9.0 rating, 10,475,000 household impressions and 15,171,000 viewers to become the highest-rated and most-viewed Game 1 of The Finals since 2004 (Detroit Pistons at Los Angeles Lakers – 9.8 rating; 10,634,000 households; 15,352,000 viewers), according to Nielsen. Tuesday’s Game 1 was the highest-rated program of the night.
Game 1 of this year’s Finals was up eight percent among viewers, six percent among households and five percent in rating compared to Game 1 of the 2010 Finals featuring the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers (8.6 rating; 9,910,000 households; 14,091,000 viewers). Additionally, Tuesday’s game was up 32 percent among viewers (vs. 11,514,000), 22 percent among households (vs. 8,561,000) and 15 percent in rating (vs. 7.8) compared to Game 1 of the 2006 NBA Finals when these same two teams met.
In Miami, the top-rated metered market, the game delivered a 31.9 rating, an increase of 28 percent compared to a 24.9 rating locally for Game 1 in 2006. Dallas, ranked second among the metered markets, netted a 29.9 rating, the highest-rated game locally since the 2006 Finals.
That’s going to do it.
