NBA Finals: Facing U.S. Open, Game 3 Hits Three-Year Low in Overnights

Posted by | 06/18/2012 at 11:10 am

Facing stronger than usual competition, overnight ratings for Game 3 of the NBA Finals declined from last year.

Game 3 of the Thunder/Heat NBA Finals drew a 10.4 overnight rating on ABC Sunday night, down 6% from Heat/Mavericks Game 3 last year (11.1), and down 10% from Lakers/Celtics Game 3 on a Tuesday night in 2010 (11.5).

The 10.4 overnight is the lowest for Game 3 of the NBA Finals since Lakers/Magic three years ago (10.1), and is the second-lowest for a Game 3 over the past five years. The two previous games in the series each drew an 11.8 overnight.

Competition from the final round of the U.S. Open on NBC almost certainly hurt the numbers. With that said, the NBA more than likely won the head-to-head battle comfortably.

The last time the U.S. Open encroached on the NBA Finals’ primetime territory — 2008 — Game 5 between the Celtics and Lakers drew a 12.6 overnight. Keep in mind the two events did not air directly opposite each other that year. Sunday coverage of the 2008 U.S. Open ended at 9 PM ET, which is when Game 5 of the Finals began.

Game 3 also faced competition from a Red Sox/Cubs Major League Baseball game on ESPN. However, despite the big names involved, the baseball game drew only a 1.0 overnight.

Sunday’s game drew a 41.9 rating in Oklahoma City, down 6% from Game 2 (44.4). For some perspective, Game 3 of the 1996 Bulls/SuperSonics NBA Finals — the last for the SuperSonics franchise before moving to Oklahoma City in 2008 — drew a 33.4 rating in Seattle.

The game drew a 29.6 in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, down 2% from Game 2 (30.3), and down 8% from Game 3 last year (32.3).

(Sunday’s numbers from ESPN Media Zone, ESPN)

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  • JakeFrankie

    2004 NBA Finals and 2011 NBA Finals both declined for game 3, I knew game 3 wouldn’t see much of a jump. I expect with game 4 and on we shall see pretty decent jumps until the series is over. 

  • Rich S.

    I didn’t think the golf would draw a 6.6 with Tiger out of the hunt. That undoubtedly affected the Game 3 rating.

    As a sidenote, I wonder if the Heat pull away in the series whether the ratings will decline? Most people are watching to see Miami lose, and I’m not sure how many will want to stick around to watch LeBron’s coronation.

    • JakeFrankie

      How good of a draw would OKC be without Miami in this finals? Not nearly as good with Miami, It’s still way too early to think of Miami winning the series they were up 2-1 vs the Mavericks last year.

      The series even if it ends in 5 games, Will average double digits regardless of how long the series is.

  • Wpd45

    Also the earilier (8:00PM) start time hurts the ratings.  Plus it being a holiday also hurts ratings. 

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/GDEYUQYISOX47HRGQ6O6JMNQAA MG

    This will pull down the series average rating below 10.0. Game 4 should get a nice boost. NBA is undoubtedly rooting for an OKC victory tonight. A possible Game 6 on Sunday could draw 23-25 million viewers