It was the Warriors’ party and more than 19 million were invited.
Game 1 of the Cavaliers/Warriors NBA Finals earned an 11.1 final rating and 19.2 million viewers on ABC Thursday night, up 5% in ratings and 8% in viewership from the same matchup last year (10.6, 17.2M) and up 23% and 29%, respectively, from Heat/Spurs in 2014 (9.0, 14.8M). Figures do not include the streaming audience on WatchESPN (347K) or the Spanish-language audience on ESPN Deportes (124K).
Golden State’s win ranks as the most-watched Game 1 of the NBA Finals since Bulls/Jazz in 1998 (26.7M) — the last to feature Michael Jordan — and the highest rated since 76ers/Lakers in 2001 (12.4). Regardless of sport, it was the highest rated and most-watched Game 1 of a championship series since Phillies/Yankees in the 2009 World Series (11.9, 19.5M).
Dating back to last season, all seven Cavaliers/Warriors NBA Finals games have hit a multi-year high in ratings and viewership, with six of those seven hitting at least a ten-year high in both measures.
Overall, Thursday’s opener earned the 10th-largest NBA audience on ABC since it resumed airing games in 2002 and tied the 11th-highest rating. The two Cavaliers/Warriors series have generated six of ABC’s thirteen largest NBA audiences.
It also earned the largest audience for any sporting event since the Super Bowl, comfortably topping the NCAA Tournament national championship game on Turner Sports (10.6, 17.8M), the Kentucky Derby (9.0, 15.5M) and the final round of The Masters (7.7, 12.4M). Outside of the NFL, only college football’s national championship put up better numbers this year (15.0, 26.2M).
Among adults 18-49, Game 1 scored a 7.3 rating — up 6% from last year (6.9), up 22% from 2014 (6.0), and the highest Game 1 rating in the demo since 2001 (8.8). The 7.3 is television’s highest rating in the demo since the Academy Awards in February (10.5), and the highest for any sporting event since the Super Bowl. It also had a 7.1 among adults 18-34, up 4% from last year’s 6.8, up 18% from 2014 (6.0) and ABC’s highest Game 1 rating in the demo.
Game 1 peaked at a 12.9 rating and 22.6 million viewers from 10:45-11 PM ET, comparable to last year’s peak figures of 13.0 and 21.9 million. Keep in mind this year’s game was a blowout by the end, while last year’s went to overtime.
(Thu. numbers from ESPN Media Zone, additional info from ShowBuzz Daily)
