Depending on how you look at it, Game 1 of the NBA Finals either did fairly well or very badly on Thursday night.
The prime-time portion of the Celtics’ Game 1 victory over the Lakers averaged a 9.2 overnight from 9:00-11:00 PM on ABC, up 16% from a 7.9 last year. For the night, ABC averaged 9.5 million viewers and a 3.7/11 among adults 18-49, winning the night in both categories. Keep in mind that those numbers include both the Jimmy Kimmel Live special at 8:00 PM and NBA Countdown at 8:30 PM.
Also note that Game 1 lasted an hour past prime-time, ending shortly before midnight. Viewership rose during the final hour of the game, giving a solid boost to the final overnight rating. More on that when the final overnight rating becomes available.
The 9.2 prime time overnight would be the third-highest overnight for Game 1 of the NBA Finals since ABC began airing games in 2002. The overnight would also be the lowest for an NBA Finals game involving the Lakers since at least 1987. Four years ago, the Lakers’ Game 1 loss to the Detroit Pistons drew an 11.6 overnight on a Sunday night.
ABC was #1 for the night during each half hour of the game, with the overnight rating peaking at 10.1/17 at 10:30 PM.
NBA Finals Game 1 overnight by half-hour.
from 9 PM – 11 PM only
9:00 PM: 8.0/14 (up 8% from ’07)
9:30 PM: 9.3/15 (up 11% from ’07)
10:00 PM: 9.4/15 (up 11% from ’07)
10:30 PM: 10.1/17 (up 15% from ’07)
Update: Game 1 drew a 10.4 overnight, up 32% from last year, and the second-highest overnight ABC has ever drawn for the first game of the NBA Finals.
