Ratings and viewership inched up for the NBA Playoffs on ABC.
ABC averaged a 3.4 rating and 5.3 million viewers for its nine-game coverage of the 2010 NBA Playoffs, up 6% and 7%, respectively, from the comparable point last year. ABC aired one additional game last year (Lakers/Nuggets Game 3); when that game is factored in, this year’s average rating is even.
Sunday’s Celtics/Magic Game 1 drew a 4.5 final rating and 7.0 million viewers, even in ratings but down 6% in viewership from Rockets/Lakers Game 7 last year (4.5, 7.5 mil), and down 21% and 19%, respectively, from Cavaliers/Celtics Game 7 in ’08 (5.7, 8.7 mil).
Compared to Jazz/Spurs Game 1 in ’07, the last time ABC aired an afternoon Conference Final game, Celtics/Magic was up 45% from a 3.1 rating.
Excluding the NBA Finals, Celtics/Magic Game 1 is tied as the 14th highest rated of the 71 NBA Playoff games on ABC since the network resumed airing games in ’02.
Additionally, Sunday’s game was the second-most viewed sporting event of the weekend on broadcast, behind only The Preakness Stakes. In as rare an occurrence as any, Celtics/Magic even finished comfortably ahead of a competing NASCAR race on FOX (5.8 mil).
15 Highest Rated NBA Playoff Games on ABC Since ’02
Excludes the NBA Finals
| # | Date | Game | # | Net | Rating | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thu., 5/15/03 | Spurs 110, Lakers 82 | 6 |
ABC
|
6.5
|
9,477
|
| 2 | Sun., 5/21/06 | Cavaliers 61, Pistons 79 | 7 |
ABC
|
6.1
|
8,877
|
| 3 | Thu., 5/13/04 | Lakers 74, Spurs 73 | 5 |
ABC
|
6.0
|
8,551
|
| T4 | Sun., 5/17/08 | Cavaliers 92, Celtics 97 | 7 |
ABC
|
5.7
|
8,697
|
| T4 | Sun., 5/11/03 | Spurs 95, Lakers 99 | 4 |
ABC
|
5.7
|
8,243
|
| 6 | Mon., 5/29/06 | Pistons 78, Heat 89 | 4 |
ABC
|
5.5
|
8,190
|
| 7 | Sat., 5/23/09 | Lakers 103, Nuggets 97 | 3 |
ABC
|
5.4
|
8,731
|
| T8 | Sun., 5/2/04 | Lakers 78, Spurs 88 | 1 |
ABC
|
4.9
|
7,290
|
| T8 | Sun., 4/27/03 | T’Wolves 97, Lakers 102 | 4 |
ABC
|
4.9
|
7,009
|
| 10 | Sun., 4/25/04 | Lakers 92, Rockets 88 | 4 |
ABC
|
4.8
|
7,006
|
| T11 | Mon., 5/30/05 | Suns 111, Spurs 106 | 4 |
ABC
|
4.7
|
7,100
|
| T11 | Sun., 5/9/04 | Spurs 81, Lakers 105 | 3 |
ABC
|
4.7
|
7,092
|
| 13 | Sun., 5/4/03 | Blazers 95, Mavericks 107 | 7 |
ABC
|
4.6
|
6,178
|
| T14 | Sun., 5/17/09 | Rockets 70, Lakers 89 | 7 |
ABC
|
4.5
|
7,352
|
| T14 | Sun., 5/16/10 | Celtics 92, Magic 88 | 1 |
ABC
|
4.5
|
7,030
|
