The fourth game of the 2011 NBA Finals hit a series-high in ratings and viewership, but still trailed last year’s comparable matchup.
Tuesday’s Heat/Mavericks Game 4 drew a 9.6 final rating and 16.126 million viewers on ABC, down 3% in ratings and 2% in viewership from last year (LAL/BOS G4: 9.9, 16.371M), but up 2% and 1%, respectively, from 2009 (LAL/ORL G4: 9.4, 15.957M).
Though down from last year, the game ranks as the second-highest rated, second-most viewed Game 4 of the NBA Finals since 2004 (LAL/DET G4: 12.7, 20.295M), and the top Game 4 of a non-Lakers NBA Finals since 1999 (SA/NY G4: 12.0, 16.76M, NBC).
Game 4 drew a higher rating and more viewers than every single game of the 2006 Heat/Mavericks NBA Finals and every game of the 2007 Spurs/Cavaliers NBA Finals, LeBron James‘ first trip to the event.
Overall, of the 32 NBA Finals games since the 1998-99 lockout that have not involved the Lakers, Tuesday’s game ranks as the fourth-most viewed, behind only Game 7 of the 2005 NBA Finals and Games 1, 3 and 4 of the 1999 NBA Finals.
In the adults 18-34 (6.9) and 18-49 (6.7) demographics, Tuesday’s game was the highest rated Game 4 in seven years. The 6.7 in the adults 18-49 demo marks a 2% increase from last year (6.6) and a 5% rise from 2009 (6.4).
The game was the top program of the Tuesday night in ratings, viewership, and the adults 18-49 demo. This marks the 23rd straight NBA Finals game to rank as the highest rated program of the night in both households and adults 18-49.
Despite slight declines in viewership for Games 2, 3 and 4, the 2011 NBA Finals still ranks as the most-viewed since 2004. The four-game average of 15.536 million viewers is up just 0.1% from last year (LAL/BOS: 15.521M), and up 8% from 2009 (LAL/ORL: 14.386M).
Average Viewership For First Four Games of NBA Finals
Dating Back to 2006
(Numbers from espnmediazone3.com, abcmedianet.com)
