NBA Playoffs: Heat/Celtics Game 4 Earns Best NBA Overnight on Cable

Posted by | 06/04/2012 at 12:18 pm

The fourth game between the Heat and Celtics set a ratings record on ESPN.

Game 4 of the Heat/Celtics NBA Eastern Conference Finals drew a 7.9 overnight rating on ESPN Sunday night, up 39% from Mavericks/Thunder Game 4 on a Monday night last year (5.7), and up 30% from Magic/Celtics Game 4 on a Monday night in 2010 (6.1).

Compared to Bulls/Heat Game 4 on TNT last year, which aired on a Tuesday night, the overnight rating marks a 10% increase from a 7.2.

The 7.9 overnight for Game 4 is the highest ever for an NBA playoff game on cable television, and the highest for any playoff game (excluding the NBA Finals) since Game 6 of the Spurs/Lakers second round series on ABC in 2003 (8.0).

The overnight is also the highest for a Game 4 in the Conference Finals since Kings/Lakers Game 4 drew an 8.0 on NBC in 2002.

Locally, Game 4 was the highest rated NBA game ever on ESPN in Boston (20.7), and the third-highest in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale (19.7).

Game 3 on Friday night drew a series-low 5.6 overnight rating, up 24% from Mavericks/Thunder Game 3 on a Saturday night last year (4.5), and up 27% from Magic/Celtics Game 3 on a Saturday night in 2010 (4.4).

Compared to Bulls/Heat Game 3 on TNT last year, which aired on a Sunday night, the overnight was down 27% from a 7.7.

(Sunday’s numbers from ESPN, ESPN Media Zone; Saturday’s numbers from Sports Business Daily)

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

    Paulsen, could a potential game 7 draw a double-digit overnight rating? I know it’s probably a reach to talk double-digit ratings for a conference final (on cable no less) but at this point you gotta wonder, especially if the series go the distance and we get a game 7.

    Another thing. For all the talk about this year’s playoffs being not as close as they were last year, the 2012 playoffs have had more game 7′s than the past two years, more overtime games and both conference finals are tied at 2, which is not something we see every year. Besides, when Derrick Rose got injured in the 1st round, people were going apocleptic over the fact the East playoffs would’ve been uncompetitive, with the Heat easily destroying all of their opponents. Instead, the conference semis and the conference finals in the East have been very competitive. Actually, this year’s eastern finals have been much closer than last year’s seemingly titanic Heat/Bulls series.

    • Paulsen

      Game 7, if it were to take place, could possibly hit double-digits. There’s a smaller chance of that due to the Saturday night window.

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

        Good point about the saturday night part..forgot about it!

  • Hrana Cc

    Thats what you get overtime game LeBron and the Celtics a Ratings winner !