NBA Finals Has Another Viewership Dip, But Nears Post-Jordan High

Viewership declined for a fourth straight game, but the Cavaliers/Warriors rematch continues to deliver some of the best NBA Finals numbers in the post-Michael Jordan era.

Game 5 of the Cavaliers/Warriors NBA Finals earned an 11.8 final rating and 20.5 million viewers on ABC Monday night, flat in ratings and down 2% in viewership from the same matchup last year (11.8, 20.9M) and up 15% and 14%, respectively, from Heat/Spurs in 2014 (10.3, 18.0M). Both of those games took place on a Sunday, the most-watched night of the week. Figures do not include WatchESPN (380K) or ESPN Deportes.

The Cavaliers’ win, which peaked at 24.0 million viewers from 11:15-11:30 PM ET, earned the second-largest audience for Game 5 of the NBA Finals since Lakers/Pistons in 2004 (21.8M). It also matched last year as the highest rated over that span.

Overall, Game 5 delivered the tenth-largest NBA audience since Michael Jordan’s final relevant game in 1998, and the third-largest when series-clinching games are excluded. LeBron James has played in six of the ten most-watched games since ’98, more than any other player.

Monday’s game also ranks as the highest rated and most-watched sporting event since the Super Bowl, topping Game 1 (11.1, 19.2M). For the year, it ranks second among non-NFL sporting events behind the Alabama/Clemson college football championship (15.0, 26.2M).

Game 5 earned a 7.6 rating among adults 18-49, the same as last year, and up 12% from 2014 (6.8). The 7.6 is tied with last year and Thunder/Heat in 2012 as the highest Game 5 rating in the demo since 2004 (9.1).

After Games 3 and 4 were the lowest rated in adults 18-34 since 2007, an eye-opening stat given the hype surrounding the series, Game 5 bounced back with a 7.2 rating in the demo. That is still down 4% from last year (7.5) but up 9% from 2014 (6.6). The 7.2 ranks fourth out of the past six Game 5 telecasts, trailing last year, 2012 (7.8) and 2011 (7.7), but ahead of 2014 and 2013 (6.3).

The NBA Finals has averaged a 10.4 rating and 18.0 million viewers through five games, down 7% in ratings and 6% in viewership from last year (11.2, 19.2M*) but up 12% and 16%, respectively, from 2014 (9.3, 15.5M). The series ranks as the third-highest rated and second-most watched NBA Finals through five games since 2001.

* Last year’s five-game averages are fast-national figures.

Most-Watched NBA Games Since 1998

(Mon. numbers from ESPN, with additional info from ShowBuzz Daily)