The 2009 NBA Playoffs got off to a rough start on ABC.
Two NBA Playoff games last weekend averaged a 2.7 rating on ABC, down 21% from a 3.4 for two comparable games last year.
Saturday’s Pistons/Cavaliers Game 1 drew a 2.2 final rating on ABC, down 31% from a 3.2 for last year’s comparable Suns/Spurs Game 1, but even with Heat/Bulls Game 1 in ’07. The 2.2 is tied as the second-lowest rating for any NBA Playoff game on broadcast since at least 1999, ahead of only 76ers/Pistons Game 1 ’05.
Meanwhile, Jazz/Lakers Game 1 drew a 3.2 final rating on Sunday, down 9% from a 3.5 for Nuggets/Lakers Game 1 in ’08, but up 7% from a 3.0 for Lakers/Suns Game 1 in ’07. The 3.2 rating is the second-lowest for a Laker playoff game on broadcast since at least ’99.
Overall, ABC’s 2.7 average is the lowest for the opening weekend of the NBA Playoffs on broadcast since ’07 (2.6), and the second-lowest of the past ten years.
Meanwhile, over on ESPN, a Saturday tripleheader also saw declining ratings. Three games averaged a 2.2 cable rating, down 8% from a 2.4 last year, but up 38% from a 1.6 in ’07. In particular, Bulls/Celtics Game 1 drew a 2.3, flat from last year’s Wizards/Cavaliers game, Mavericks/Spurs drew a 2.0, down 20% from Mavericks/Hornets in ’08, and Rockets/Blazers drew a 2.4, down 4% from Jazz/Rockets in ’08.
Source: ESPN
Ratings for opening weekend of NBA Playoffs on broadcast since ’99.
| Year | Net | # of games | Avg. rtg | Highest rated game | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | ABC |
2
|
2.7
|
Jazz/Lakers Game 1 |
3.2
|
| 2008 | ABC |
2
|
3.4
|
Nuggets/Lakers Game 1 |
3.5
|
| 2007 | ABC |
2
|
2.6
|
Lakers/Suns Game 1 |
3.0
|
| 2006 | ABC |
2
|
2.9
|
Lakers/Suns Game 1 |
3.4
|
| 2005 | ABC |
2
|
2.6
|
Nets/Heat Game 1 |
3.1
|
| 2004 | ABC |
1
|
3.0
|
Mavericks/Kings Game 1 |
3.0
|
| 2003 | ABC |
1
|
4.1
|
Lakers/T’Wolves Game 1 |
4.1
|
| 2002 | NBC |
6
|
3.8
|
Blazers/Lakers Game 1 |
5.9
|
| 2001 | NBC |
6
|
3.7
|
Blazers/Lakers Game 1 |
5.5
|
| 2000 | NBC |
6
|
4.6
|
Kings/Lakers Game 1 |
6.2
|
| 1999 | NBC |
6
|
4.6
|
Rockets/Lakers Game 1 |
6.2
|
