NBA Finals: Heat/Thunder Opener Earns 11.8 Overnight, Best Ever For Game 1 on ABC

Posted by | 06/13/2012 at 10:33 am

The much-hyped 2012 NBA Finals got off to the best start in a decade.

Game 1 of the Heat/Thunder NBA Finals drew an 11.8 overnight rating on ABC Tuesday night, up 10% from Mavericks/Heat Game 1 last year (10.7), and up 14% from Celtics/Lakers Game 1 on a Thursday night in 2010 (10.4).

The 11.8 overnight is the highest for Game 1 of the NBA Finals since Nets/Lakers Game 1 on NBC in 2002 (13.0). The previous high for a Game 1 on ABC was an 11.6 for Pistons/Lakers in 2004.

This marks the highest overnight for a Game 1 of the NBA Finals that did not involve the Lakers since Bulls/Jazz Game 1 in 1998 (18.8).

Overall, Game 1 drew the eighth-highest overnight for a non-clinching NBA Finals game on ABC since the network resumed airing games in the 2002-03 season.

Dating back to 2000, final ratings for Game 1 of the NBA Finals have declined between 12% and 21% from the overnight, putting Tuesday’s game on pace to finish in the 9.3-10.4 range. Currently, the highest final rating for Game 1 of the NBA Finals on ABC is a 9.8 for Pistons/Lakers in ’04.

Locally, Game 1 drew a 30.5 rating in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, down 4% from Game 1 last year (31.9).

In Oklahoma City, the game drew a 44.4 rating, the highest ever for an NBA game in the market. For some perspective, SuperSonics/Bulls Game 1 in 1996 drew a 39.6 rating in Seattle.

(Tuesday’s numbers from ESPN Media Zone)

# # # #
  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrea-Cavalli/757338131 Andrea Cavalli

    A 44 rating for game 1 in the OKC market..can’t wait to see what they’re going to draw if there is a game 6 or 7.

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

    Wow. Looks like we underestimated this series. Game 3 ratings on Sunday are gonna be HUGE. However, last night has me thinking that OKC could take the series in 4 or 5.

    • Rich S.

       I think it will be much more competitive than that. I see the Thunder having a 3-2 lead coming back to OKC for game 6.

      It will be interesting to see how each game’s rating grows against its equivalent in the ’04 Pistons/Lakers series, which I believe increased substantially as the series went on and ended up giving ABC their best ever Finals rating?

  • JakeFrankie

    Judging by this game 1 tv rating, Usually NBA Finals games always increase as the series goes on. Looks like NBA will get another double digit finals, This ratings have blown away my prediction of 9.2 for game 1. This game could get a 9.9 or 10.0 just for GAME 1 lol. Great news for the NBA.

  • Bessilver

    My goodness!  NBA Finals is off to a great start.  It will be interesting to see if these #’s sustain itself or increase as the series progresses. 

    No reason why it shouldn’t considering the game’s best two players are on display (Durant and James).

  • Wpd45

    Unless soemthing earth shatterning happens each game will increase only slighly until we get to game #6 and then they typically jump up at least 33% and then if it goes to a game #7 another 33%

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

      I think Game 2 will draw similar numbers to Game 1, but Game 3 (which falls on a Sunday night) will almost certainly have a significant jump if it’s somewhat of a close game. I could see it reaching 20 million viewers.

  • Jeffrey

    This really isn’t a surprise to me. A lot of things have come together to result in ABC getting this kind of rating. Momentum shifts as the series progresses will be key to a surge to an even higher level. This is what the NHL wanted for NBC, but instead got large markets with lukewarm interest and a less-than-competitive series. And this is what MLB would REALLY love in October, although before we go too crazy over an 11.8 overnight, bear in mind the ’09 World Series Game 1 did something in the upper 13′s for an overnight. But the country is clearing paying attention to Thunder-Heat.

    • JakeFrankie

      I would love to see any World Series besides the Yankees or Red Sox get higher than 11.8 overnight rating in this day and age? Clearly getting to the days of 14.0-18.0′s series average are long gone for the NBA. But This is a new time age, MLB WS ratings have taken gigantic hits (more than any sport). NBA has seen huge rises and falls in the ratings. 11.8 overnight is a HUGE overnight for the NBA considering how small OKC is and Miami is just a mid level market (of course the big stars play there).

      • Jeffrey

         Yep, good start to the Finals for sure. I really think Major League Baseball is becoming more and more a regional sport, a la the NHL. Never thought I would even think that, never mind type it on a blog!

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

    Looks like Game 1 drew over 16 million viewers….no word on the final rating yet….

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

    Disregard my last post. According to ESPNZONE, Game 1 received a 9.9 household rating…ARGHHH!