Ratings increased for both games of last Sunday’s NBA doubleheader on ABC.
Sunday’s Spurs/Lakers game drew a 2.5 final rating and 4.0 million viewers on ABC, up 32% and 44%, respectively, from Suns/Mavericks last year (1.9, 2.8 mil), and up 14% in ratings from Mavericks/Suns in ’08 (2.2).
The game stands as the highest rated, most-viewed NBA telecast on ABC since Lakers/Celtics in January (3.5, 5.7 mil).
Excluding the Men’s Final Four, Spurs/Lakers was the most-viewed sporting event of last weekend, ahead of Yankees/Red Sox on ESPN2 (which was blacked out in New York and Boston), the Women’s Final Four on ESPN and the PGA on NBC.
Earlier in the day, Cavaliers/Celtics drew a 2.1 final rating and 3.3 million viewers, up 11% and 26%, respectively, from Spurs/Cavaliers last year (1.9, 2.6 mil), and up 50% in ratings from Warriors/Hornets in ’08 (1.4).
The 2.1 rating is the highest of the season for an NBA game on ABC in the 1:00 PM window.
Overall, ABC’s last four NBA telecasts have had double-digit increases in ratings.
Ratings/Viewership For NBA on ABC During 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 | ||||
| Sun., 3/7/10 | Lakers 94 | ABC |
2.1
|
3,176
|
| Magic 96 | ||||
| Sun., 3/14/10 | Celtics 93 | ABC |
2.4
|
3,808
|
| Cavaliers 104 | ||||
| Sun., 4/4/10 | Cavaliers 113 | ABC |
2.1
|
3,303
|
| Celtics 117 | ||||
| Spurs 100 | ABC |
2.5
|
3,957
|
|
| Lakers 81 |
