NBA Finals Continues to Draw Viewers In

Despite a blowout win by Golden State that assures the NBA Finals will go at least 6 games, last night’s Game 4 drew the highest ratings for a such contest in over ten years. Thursday’s game averaged a 13.9 overnight rating which is 31% better than last year’s 10.6 for Game 4 of Miami-San Antonio.

Cleveland drew the highest ratings of all local markets with a 45.7 while San Francisco averaged a 30.5..

Through four games, the series is averaging the highest ratings for an NBA Finals on ABC.

Here’s the announcement.

Highest-Rated NBA Finals Ever on ABC through Four Games

13.9 Overnight Rating is Best for Game 4 in Over a Decade

NBA_FinalsThe 2015 NBA Finals, in which the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors are tied 2-2, is the highest-rated ever on ABC through four games, according to Nielsen. Last night’s Game 4 delivered a 13.9 overnight rating, which is the highest-rated Game 4 on ABC in over a decade and up 31 percent from a 10.6 for last year’s Game 4 (Miami-San Antonio). The broadcast peaked with a 16.0 from 11:15-11:30 p.m. ET.

Locally, the NBA Finals on ABC continues to deliver big numbers. In the Cleveland market, Game 4 generated a 45.7 rating, which is the second-highest rated NBA game ever on ABC (Game 3 was the highest). In the San Francisco market, the broadcast delivered a 30.5 rating, which is the third-highest rated NBA game ever on ABC (Games 2 and 3 rank as the highest).

Through four games, the record-setting 2015 NBA Finals is averaging a 13.1 overnight rating, which is up 26 percent from a 10.4 last year.

Additionally, the NBA Finals is expected to win the night across all of television (broadcast and cable) for the 46th consecutive time.

NBA Countdown, ABC’s NBA Finals pre-game show, posted a 4.8 overnight rating, which was up 23 percent from a 3.9 for last year’s Game 4 pre-game show.

NBA Finals Game 4 on WatchESPN

The NBA Finals continue to deliver record audiences on WatchESPN. Thursday’s Game 4 drew 744,500 unique viewers and an average minute audience of 203,000.

That’s it for now.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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