ABC continues to see strong numbers for its NBA coverage.
Both of ABC’s NBA telecasts last week saw an uptick in ratings. The first game of the network’s doubleheader, Pistons/Celtics, drew a 2.2 final rating, up 5% from a 2.1 for last year’s comparable Bulls/Cavaliers game.
The marquee game of the day, the Suns’ win over the Lakers, drew a 3.1 final rating, up 3% from a 3.0 for last year’s overtime Mavericks/Lakers tilt, and the fourth-highest rating for an NBA game this season.
Through eleven games, ABC is averaging a 2.8 rating for NBA coverage, up 12% from a 2.5 through the same point last year, and up 22% from a 2.3 through the same point two seasons ago. The 2.8 average is tied as the highest through eleven games for the NBA on broadcast television since the 2000-01 season.
So far this season, 9 of ABC’s 11 NBA telecasts have seen increased ratings from last year, and only one game has seen a decrease in ratings.
NBA ratings on ABC during the 2008-09 season.
| Date | Time | Game | Rating | +/- |
| 12/25/2008 | 2:30 PM | Spurs/Suns | 3.2 | 3% |
| 12/25/2008 | 5:00 PM | Celtics/Lakers | 5.3 | 51% |
| 1/25/2009 | 1:00 PM | Mavericks/Celtics | 1.7 | -6% |
| 1/25/2009 | 3:30 PM | Spurs/Lakers | 2.8 | 0% |
| 2/1/2009 | 2:30 PM | Cavaliers/Pistons | 1.8 | 13% |
| 2/8/2009 | 1:00 PM | Spurs/Celtics | 2.4 | 4% |
| 2/8/2009 | 3:30 PM | Lakers/Cavaliers | 3.8 | 46% |
| 2/22/2009 | 2:30 PM | Celtics/Suns | 2.1 | 11% |
| 3/1/2009 | 1:00 PM | Pistons/Celtics | 2.2 | 5% |
| 3/1/2009 | 3:30 PM | Lakers/Suns | 3.1 | 3% |
| Avg. rating | 2.8 | 12% |
