The opener of the much-hyped Celtics/Heat series earned the largest audience for any second round NBA playoff game in eight years.
Game 1 between the Celtics and Heat earned a 5.8 final rating and 9.219 million viewers on ABC Sunday afternoon, up 53% in ratings and 55% in viewership from last year (UTA/LAL G1: 3.8, 5.955M), and up 81% and 97%, respectively, from 2009 (DAL/DEN G1: 3.2, 4.689M).
Sunday’s game ranks as the most-viewed second round NBA playoff game since 2003 (SA/LAL G6: 9.477M), and the most-viewed afternoon NBA game on ABC since the network reacquired rights to the league in 2002.
Excluding the NBA Finals, Celtics/Heat ranks as the most-viewed Game 1 of any NBA playoff series over at least the past ten seasons. The previous ten-season high was set by Lakers/Kings Game 1 in 2002, which drew 9.153 million.
Again excluding the Finals, Game 1 stands as the seventh-most viewed NBA playoff game since the current television deals began in the 2002-03 season.
For some perspective, the game drew more viewers than LeBron James‘ first NBA Finals game (2007, CLE/SA G1: 9.206M), and the last two series-clinchers between James’ Cavaliers and the Celtics (2010, CLE/BOS G6: 8.983M; 2008, CLE/BOS G7: 8.697M).
First Round Wrap: One week earlier, ABC earned 7.020 million viewers for Celtics/Knicks Game 4, up 23% from last year (CLE/CHI G4: 5.704M), and up 31% from 2009 (CLE/DET G4: 5.358M).
The game stands as the most-viewed first round NBA playoff game since 2002 (LAL/POR G3: 8.555M, NBC).
Earlier in the day, ABC drew 5.025 million viewers for Heat/76ers Game 4, up 28% from last year (BOS/MIA G4: 3.913M), and up 1% from 2009 (BOS/CHI G4: 4.961M).
ABC averaged a 3.5 rating and 5.640 million viewers for its first round NBA playoff coverage (four telecasts), up 25% and 31%, respectively, from last year (2.8, 4.305M), and the most-viewed opening round on the network since 2004 (4.0, 5.795M).
(Numbers from espnmediazone.com, espn.com)
