Ratings dropped double-digits for both games of last Sunday’s NBA doubleheader on ABC.
The Lakers’ win over the Nuggets drew a 2.0 final rating and 3.1 million viewers on ABC Sunday, down 36% and 35%, respectively, Lakers/Suns last year (3.1, 4.8 mil), and down 33% in ratings from Mavericks/Lakers in ’08 (3.0).
If the 2.0 final rating seems like a significant decline from the reported 3.8 overnight, there is good reason — the overnight was incorrect.
Sports Media Watch, using data from Sports Business Daily, originally reported that the game drew a 3.8 overnight rating. However, the Sports Business Daily article has since been updated to reflect that the game drew a 2.5 overnight.
Earlier Sunday, the Spurs’ win over the Suns drew a 1.3 final rating and 1.9 million viewers, down 41% and 39%, respectively, from Pistons/Celtics last year (2.2, 3.1 mil), and down 38% in ratings from Bulls/Cavaliers in ’08 (2.1).
Both games aired opposite the Canada/USA Olympic Men’s Hockey Gold Medal Game, which drew a 15.2 rating and 27.6 million viewers.
Ratings/viewership for NBA on ABC (2009-10 season)
| Date | Game | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., 12/25/09 | Celtics 86 | ABC |
3.3
|
5,855
|
| Magic 77 | ||||
| Cavaliers 102 | ABC |
4.4
|
8,316
|
|
| Lakers 87 | ||||
| Sun., 1/31/10 | Nuggets 103 | ABC |
1.6
|
2,328
|
| Spurs 89 | ||||
| Lakers 90 | ABC |
3.5
|
5,655
|
|
| Celtics 89 | ||||
| Sun., 2/7/10 | Magic 96 | ABC |
1.6
|
2,484
|
| Celtics 89 | ||||
| Sun., 2/21/10 | Cavaliers 95 | ABC |
1.9
|
2,862
|
| Magic 101 | ||||
| Celtics 105 | ABC |
2.3
|
3,534
|
|
| Nuggets 114 | ||||
| Sun., 2/28/10 | Suns 110 | ABC |
1.3
|
1,905
|
| Spurs 113 | ||||
| Nuggets 89 | ABC |
2.0
|
3,102
|
|
| Lakers 95 |
(ESPN)
