NBA Finals: Heat/Thunder Game 2 Hits Another 11-Year High in Viewership

Posted by | 06/15/2012 at 6:47 pm

Like Tuesday’s Game 1, Game 2 of the 2012 NBA Finals hit an eleven-year high in viewership.

Game 2 of the Heat/Thunder NBA Finals drew a 10.4 final rating and 16.670 million viewers on ABC Thursday night, up 12% in ratings and 7% in viewership from Mavericks/Heat Game 2 last year (9.3, 15.525M), and up 13% and 6%, respectively, from Celtics/Lakers Game 2 on a Sunday night in 2010 (9.2, 15.718M).

Thursday’s game ranks as the most-viewed Game 2 of the NBA Finals since Sixers/Lakers on NBC in 2001 (18.719M) and the highest rated since Pistons/Lakers in 2004 (10.7). The 10.4 rating is the third-highest for a Game 2 in the NBA Finals since 1998.

Excluding series-clinching games, Game 2 ranks as the sixth-most viewed NBA Finals game on ABC since the network resumed airing games in the 2002-03 season.

Game 2 drew a 7.1 rating among adults 18-49, up 9% from both last year (6.5) and 2010 (6.5), and the highest Game 2 rating in the demo since 2001 (8.5). Ratings among adults 18-34 (7.5) and adults 25-54 (7.1) were also the highest for a Game 2 since 2001.

Among men 18-34, the Game 2 rating (9.8) was the highest since Bulls/Jazz in 1998.

Through two games, the Heat/Thunder NBA Finals has averaged a 10.1 rating and 16.439 million viewers on ABC, up 10% in ratings and and 7% in viewership from last year (9.2, 15.349M), and up 14% and 10%, respectively, from 2010 (8.9, 14.912M). This is the first time since 2004 (10.3) that the NBA Finals has averaged a double-digit rating through two games, and just the second time in the past decade.

The series has also averaged a 7.0 rating among adults 18-49, up 8% from last year (6.5).

Ratings/Viewership For Game 2 of the NBA Finals
Past decade

Year Date Away Home Net Rating Viewers (000) A18-49
2012 Thu., 6/14/12 Heat Thunder ABC
10.4
16,670
7.1
2011 Thu., 6/2/11 Mavs Heat ABC
9.3
15,525
6.5
2010 Sun., 6/6/10 Celtics Lakers ABC
9.2
15,718
6.5
2009 Sun., 6/7/09 Magic Lakers ABC
8.2
14,061
5.8
2008 Sun., 6/8/08 Lakers Celtics ABC
8.5
13,499
5.5
2007 Sun., 6/10/07 Cavs Spurs ABC
5.6
8,551
3.4
2006 Sun., 6/11/06 Heat Mavs ABC
8.0
12,410
5.3
2005 Sun., 6/12/05 Pistons Spurs ABC
6.9
10,662
4.5
2004 Tue., 6/8/04 Pistons Lakers ABC
10.7
16,129
7.0
2003 Fri., 6/6/03 Nets Spurs ABC
5.2
8,058
3.3
2002 Fri., 6/7/02 Nets Lakers NBC
9.1
14,046
5.8

(Thursday’s numbers from ESPN Media Zone, ABC Media Net)

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  • JakeFrankie

    This is incredible news for the NBA such a hot start to the NBA Finals, Game 1 doing a 9.9 and Game 2 doing a 10.4. Only 2 games the series is averaging 10.1, I expect after game 4 and on we will see another a major jump. I expect game 3 to be in the early 10.0′s, Then game 4 and game 5 will see a pretty good jumps.

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

    I feel like the US Open has pushed the NBA Finals from a lot of people’s minds. At least David Stern can be somewhat grateful for Tiger Woods falling out of contention.

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

    So, Tiger is 10 shots out of the lead. All systems go for Game 3. If it’s close, I predict a 11 rating and 18 million viewers…