Celtics/Lakers is already putting up some of the best numbers for the NBA Finals since ABC acquired the rights — and the series is only two games old.
The Celtics’ Game 2 win over the Lakers drew a 9.2/15 final rating and 15.7 million viewers on ABC Sunday night, up 12% in ratings and viewership from Magic/Lakers Game 2 last year (8.2, 14.1 mil), up 8% and 16%, respectively, from Lakers/Celtics Game 2 in ’08 (8.5, 13.5 mil), and up 64% and 84%, respectively, from Cavaliers/Spurs Game 2 in ’07 (5.6, 8.6 mil).
Sunday’s game ranks as the highest rated, most-viewed Game 2 of the NBA Finals since 2004. Impressively, the 15.7 million viewers is down only 3% from Pistons/Lakers Game 2 in ’04, which went overtime and drew 16.1 million viewers.
Overall, this marks the third-largest audience for Game 2 of the NBA Finals since 2001, behind 76ers/Lakers Game 2 in ’01 (18.7 mil) and the aforementioned Pistons/Lakers Game 2 in ’04 (16.1 mil).
From 2005-08, the NBA Finals topped 14 million viewers just six times in 23 games (26% of the time). Over the past two seasons, the Finals has surpassed that number six times in seven games.
Game 2 ranks as the 9th most-viewed NBA game on ABC since the network acquired rights to the league in ’03. Excluding series-clinching games, it ranks as the sixth-most viewed.
Sunday’s game drew a 6.5 rating among adults 18-49, up 12% from last year’s Game 2 (5.8), up 18% from Game 2 in 2008 (5.5) and the highest Game 2 rating in the demographic since 2004 (7.0).
Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals were the two highest rated, most-viewed television programs of the week both overall and among adults 18-49.
Celtics/Lakers topped Sunday night’s Flyers/Blackhawks Game 5 on NBC by 179% in ratings (9.2 to 3.3) and 169% in viewership (15.7 mil to 5.8 mil).
Through two games, ABC is averaging an 8.9 rating and 14.9 million viewers for the 2010 NBA Finals, up 11% in ratings and 10% in viewership from Magic/Lakers last year (8.0, 13.6 mil), and the highest two-game average for the NBA Finals since ’04.
Ratings For Game 2 of the NBA Finals Since 1995 (Viewership Since ’01, Adults 18-49 Rating Since ’03)
| Year | Date | Game | # | Net | Rating | Viewers | A18-49 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Sun., 6/6/10 | Celtics/Lakers | 2 | ABC |
9.2
|
15,718
|
6.5
|
| 2009 | Sun., 6/7/09 | Magic/Lakers | 2 | ABC |
8.2
|
14,061
|
5.8
|
| 2008 | Sun., 6/8/08 | Lakers/Celtics | 2 | ABC |
8.5
|
13,499
|
5.5
|
| 2007 | Sun., 6/10/07 | Cavaliers/Spurs | 2 | ABC |
5.6
|
8,551
|
3.4
|
| 2006 | Sun., 6/11/06 | Heat/Mavericks | 2 | ABC |
8.0
|
12,410
|
5.3
|
| 2005 | Sun., 6/12/05 | Pistons/Spurs | 2 | ABC |
6.9
|
10,662
|
4.5
|
| 2004 | Tue., 6/8/04 | Pistons/Lakers | 2 | ABC |
10.7
|
16,129
|
7.0
|
| 2003 | Fri., 6/6/03 | Nets/Spurs | 2 | ABC |
5.2
|
8,058
|
3.3
|
| 2002 | Fri., 6/7/02 | Nets/Lakers | 2 | NBC |
9.1
|
14,046
|
—
|
| 2001 | Fri., 6/8/01 | 76ers/Lakers | 2 | NBC |
11.6
|
18,719
|
—
|
| 2000 | Fri., 6/9/00 | Pacers/Lakers | 2 | NBC |
9.9
|
—
|
—
|
| 1999 | Fri., 6/18/99 | Knicks/Spurs | 2 | NBC |
9.6
|
—
|
—
|
| 1998 | Fri., 6/5/98 | Bulls/Jazz | 2 | NBC |
16.6
|
—
|
—
|
| 1997 | Wed., 6/4/97 | Jazz/Bulls | 2 | NBC |
15.1
|
—
|
—
|
| 1996 | Fri., 6/7/96 | Supersonics/Bulls | 2 | NBC |
13.9
|
—
|
—
|
| 1995 | Fri., 6/9/95 | Rockets/Magic | 2 | NBC |
12.0
|
—
|
—
|
