With the caveat that five of the last 11 NBA Finals have ended in fewer than six games, Tuesday’s Celtics/Lakers battle was the most-viewed Game 6 of the NBA Finals in 10 years.
The Lakers’ 22-point win over the Celtics drew a 10.4 final rating and 18.0 million viewers on ABC, down 3% in ratings but up 6% in viewership from Lakers/Celtics Game 6 in 2008 (10.7, 16.9 mil), up 3% and 14%, respectively, from Heat/Mavericks Game 6 in 2006 (10.1, 15.7 mil), and up 18% and 33%, respectively, from Pistons/Spurs Game 6 in 2005 (8.8, 13.5 mil).
This marks the most-viewed Game 6 of the NBA Finals since Pacers/Lakers Game 6 in 2000 (22.4 mil), and the second-highest rated.
Additionally, Game 6 ranks as the second-most viewed NBA game of the past five years, behind only Sunday’s Game 5 (18.7 mil), the fifth-most viewed NBA game on ABC since the network acquired the rights in 2002, and the tenth-most viewed NBA game on any network since 2001.
Among adults 18-49, Tuesday’s game drew a 7.1 rating — up 3% from 2008 (6.9) and up 9% from 2006 (6.5). The 7.1 is the highest for a Game 6 in the demographic since Pacers/Lakers Game 6 in 2000 (10.0).
The game also did well among younger viewers, drawing the highest ratings among adults 18-34 and teens 12-17 since Lakers/Pistons Game 5 in ’04.
Entering Thursday’s decisive seventh game, the 2010 NBA Finals is averaging a 9.7 rating and 16.4 million viewers on ABC, up 16% in ratings and 15% in viewership from Lakers/Magic last year (8.4, 14.3 mil) and up 4% and 10%, respectively, from Celtics/Lakers in 2008 (9.3, 14.9 mil). The series is also averaging a 6.6 rating among adults 18-49, up 12% from last year (5.9).
Had the series ended in six games, the 16.4 million viewers would rank as the highest average for the NBA Finals since Pistons/Lakers in 2004 (17.9 mil), and the fourth-highest since 1998.
Even with the strong numbers, the NBA Finals still trails the 2009 World Series, which averaged an 11.7 rating and 19.4 million viewers for the full six games. However, in the key adults 18-49 demographic, Celtics/Lakers tops Yankees/Phillies, 6.6 to 6.2.
To put the numbers in perspective, the NBA Finals is averaging a higher rating among adults 18-49 than all but three primetime shows on broadcast during the 2009-10 television season — American Idol on Tuesday (8.3), American Idol on Wednesday (7.7) and Sunday Night Football on NBC (7.2).
Ratings For Game 6 of the NBA Finals Since 1995 (Viewership Since ’01, Adults 18-49 Rating Since ’03)
| Year | Date | Game | # | Net | Rating | Viewers | A18-49 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Tue., 6/15/10 | Celtics/Lakers | 6 | ABC |
10.4
|
17,960
|
7.1
|
| 2009 |
no game
|
||||||
| 2008 | Tue., 6/17/08 | Lakers/Celtics | 6 | ABC |
10.7
|
16,879
|
6.9
|
| 2007 |
no game
|
||||||
| 2006 | Tue., 6/20/06 | Heat/Mavericks | 6 | ABC |
10.1
|
15,710
|
6.5
|
| 2005 | Tue., 6/21/05 | Pistons/Spurs | 6 | ABC |
8.8
|
13,471
|
5.3
|
| 2004 |
no game
|
||||||
| 2003 | Sun., 6/15/03 | Nets/Spurs | 6 | ABC |
7.5
|
11,570
|
5.0
|
| 2002 |
no game
|
||||||
| 2001 |
no game
|
||||||
| 2000 | Mon., 6/19/00 | Pacers/Lakers | 6 | NBC |
14.7
|
22,396
|
10.0
|
| 1999 |
no game
|
||||||
| 1998 | Sun., 6/14/98 | Bulls/Jazz | 6 | NBC |
22.3
|
—
|
—
|
| 1997 | Fri., 6/13/97 | Jazz/Bulls | 6 | NBC |
18.5
|
—
|
—
|
| 1996 | Sun., 6/17/96 | Supersonics/Bulls | 6 | NBC |
18.8
|
—
|
—
|
| 1995 |
no game
|
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