NBA ratings are on pace to increase for the second straight season.
Through March 29, ABC is averaging a 2.5 rating for 14 NBA telecasts, up 14% from a 2.2 through the same date in ’08 (15 games), and the highest average through 14 games since the 2002-03 season.
Last Sunday’s Mavericks/Cavaliers game drew a 1.6/4 final rating, up 23% from a 1.3 for Rockets/Spurs last year, and the highest rating for an NBA game opposite the NCAA Tournament since 2006.
ABC has four NBA telecasts left, including Spurs/Cavaliers this Sunday and Celtics/Cavaliers the week after. If the ratings for those four telecasts are even with last year’s comparable games, ABC will finish the season averaging a 2.4 rating — the best for the NBA on broadcast since the 2003-04 season.
NBA ratings on ABC during the 2008-09 season.
| Date | Time | Game | Net | Rating | vs. ’08 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., 12/25/08 | 2:30 PM | Spurs/Suns | ABC |
3.2
|
3% |
| Thu., 12/25/08 | 5:00 PM | Celtics/Lakers | ABC |
5.3
|
51% |
| Sun., 1/25/09 | 1:00 PM | Mavericks/Celtics | ABC |
1.7
|
-6% |
| Sun., 1/25/09 | 3:30 PM | Spurs/Lakers | ABC |
2.8
|
0% |
| Sun., 2/1/09 | 2:30 PM | Cavaliers/Pistons | ABC |
1.8
|
13% |
| Sun., 2/8/09 | 1:00 PM | Spurs/Celtics | ABC |
2.4
|
4% |
| Sun., 2/8/09 | 3:30 PM | Lakers/Cavaliers | ABC |
3.8
|
46% |
| Sun., 2/22/09 | 2:30 PM | Celtics/Suns | ABC |
2.1
|
11% |
| Sun., 3/1/09 | 1:00 PM | Pistons/Celtics | ABC |
2.2
|
5% |
| Sun., 3/1/09 | 3:30 PM | Lakers/Suns | ABC |
3.1
|
3% |
| Sun., 3/8/09 | 3:30 PM | Suns/Spurs | ABC |
1.6
|
-24% |
| Sun., 3/15/09 | 3:30 PM | Mavericks/Lakers | ABC |
2.0
|
-20% |
| Sun., 3/22/09 | 1:00 PM | Heat/Pistons | ABC |
1.2
|
-13% |
| Sun., 3/29/09 | 1:00 PM | Mavericks/Cavaliers | ABC |
1.6
|
23% |
| Average rating thru March 29 |
2.5
|
14% | |||
