ABC finished with a 2.9 average for 10 NBA Playoff games this year, down 24% from a 3.8 average last year. The 2.9 is an record low, down 12% from the previous record low — a 3.3 average for 9 playoff games on ABC in 2005.
Nine out of ten playoff telecasts on ABC saw year-to-date declines. Only one game, Game 3 of the Suns/Spurs series, drew a higher rating than the comparable game last year. ABC’s highest rated playoff game was Game 1 of the Suns/Spurs series, which drew a 3.5 rating. Last year’s highest rated game drew a 6.1 rating.
For the first time ever, no playoff game drew a 4.0 rating on broadcast television.
2007 NBA Playoffs on ABC.
Saturday, April 21
2.2: Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls, Round 1, Game 1 (3:00 PM); down 8% from the 2.4 rating for Washington/Cleveland Game 1 last year.
Sunday, April 22
3.0: Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns, Round 1, Game 1 (3:00 PM); down 12% from the 3.4 rating for Lakers/Phoenix Game 1 last year.
Sunday, April 29
2.4: Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat, Round 1, Game 4 (1:00 PM); down 14% from the 2.8 rating for Miami/Chicago Game 4 last year.
3.3: Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers, Round 1, Game 4 (3:30 PM); down 23% from the 4.3 rating for Phoenix/Lakers Game 4 last year.
Sunday, May 6
2.4: New Jersey Nets at Cleveland Cavaliers, Semifinals, Game 1 (1:00 PM); down 20% from the 3.0 rating for Dallas/San Antonio Game 1 last year.
3.5: San Antonio Spurs at Phoenix Suns, Semifinals, Game 1 (3:30 PM); down 5% from the 3.7 rating for Cleveland/Detroit Game 1 last year.
Saturday, May 12
3.4: Phoenix Suns at San Antonio Spurs, Semifinals, Game 3 (8:15 PM); up 6% from the 3.2 rating for San Antonio/Dallas Game 3 last year.
Sunday, May 13
2.8: Detroit Pistons at Chicago Bulls, Semifinals, Game 4 (3:30 PM); down 20% from the 3.5 rating for Miami/New Jersey Game 4 last year.
Sunday, May 20
3.1: Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs, West Finals, Game 1 (3:30 PM); down 49% from the 6.1 rating for Cleveland/Detroit Game 7 last year.
Saturday, May 26
3.1: San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz, West Finals, Game 3 (8:30 PM); down 44% from the 5.5 rating for Detroit/Miami Game 4 last year, which aired on Memorial Day.
