ABC has finally benefited from the NBA’s ratings renaissance.
Game 3 of the Lakers/Nuggets West Finals drew a 5.4 fast-national rating and 8.7 million viewers on ABC Saturday night, up 46% in ratings and 60% in viewership from a 3.7 and 5.5 million for Celtics/Pistons Game 3 in ’08. Compared to ’07, the game was up 74% and 85% from a 3.1 and 4.7 million for Spurs/Jazz Game 3.
The 8.7 million viewers is the most ever for an NBA Conference Final game on ABC, topping the previous high of 8.2 million for Pistons/Heat Game 4 in ’06. Keep in mind that since taking over NBA rights in 2003, ABC has only aired 9 Conference Final games.
Additionally, Lakers/Nuggets Game 3 finishes as the seventh-highest rated and third-most viewed NBA Playoff game ever on ABC, excluding the NBA Finals.
Game 3 drew a 19.2 in Denver and a 14.4 in Los Angeles.
Through 10 telecasts, ABC has averaged a 3.4 rating for its coverage the 2009 NBA Playoffs, down 8% from a 3.7 last year, but up 17% from a 2.9 in ’07.
Ratings for the 2009 NBA Playoffs on ABC.
| Date | Time | Game | Net | Rating | vs. ’08 | vs. ’07 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., 4/18/09 | 3:00 PM | Pistons/Cavaliers Game 1 | ABC |
2.2/6
|
-31%
|
0%
|
| Sun., 4/19/09 | 3:00 PM | Jazz/Lakers Game 1 | ABC |
3.2/8
|
-9%
|
8%
|
| Sun., 4/26/09 | 1:00 PM | Celtics/Bulls Game 4 | ABC |
3.3/8
|
38%
|
38%
|
| Sun., 4/26/09 | 3:30 PM | Cavaliers/Pistons Game 4 | ABC |
3.5/8
|
0%
|
6%
|
| Sun., 5/3/09 | 1:00 PM | Heat/Hawks Game 7 | ABC |
2.6/-
|
-26%
|
8%
|
| Sun., 5/3/09 | 3:30 PM | Mavericks/Nuggets Game 1 | ABC |
3.2/-
|
-22%
|
-9%
|
| Sat., 5/9/09 | 8:15 PM | Cavaliers/Hawks Game 3 | ABC |
3.2/6
|
0%
|
-6%
|
| Sun., 5/10/09 | 3:30 PM | Lakers/Rockets Game 4 | ABC |
3.2/9
|
-22%
|
14%
|
| Sun., 5/17/09 | 3:30 PM | Rockets/Lakers Game 7 | ABC |
4.5/11
|
-21%
|
45%
|
| Sat., 5/23/09 | 8:30 PM | Lakers/Nuggets Game 3 | ABC |
5.4/-
|
46%
|
74%
|
|
Average rating
|
3.4
|
-8%
|
17%
|
|||
