ABC suffered double-digit declines in ratings and viewership for the first game of the Pacers/Heat series.
Game 1 of the Pacers/Heat second round NBA playoff series drew a 4.4 final rating and 7.016 million viewers on ABC Sunday afternoon, down 24% in ratings and 23% in viewership from Celtics/Heat Game 1 last year (5.8, 9.169M), but up 16% and 18%, respectively, from Jazz/Lakers Game 1 in 2010 (3.8, 5.955M).
Keep in mind last year’s Celtics/Heat game was the most-viewed non-Finals playoff game on ABC since 2003.
Pacers/Heat Game 1 ranks as the second-most viewed telecast of the postseason on any network, trailing only Wednesday’s Lakers/Thunder Game 2 on TNT (7.445M).
Earlier in the day, Game 7 of the Clippers/Grizzlies first round series drew a 3.2 final rating and 4.663 million viewers — up 3% in ratings but down 3% in viewership from Grizzlies/Thunder Game 1 last year (3.1, 4.787M), and up 52% and 53%, respectively, from Bucks/Hawks Game 7 in 2010 (2.1, 3.056M).
Of the 37 first round playoff games on ESPN/ABC and TNT that can be compared to last year, only ten had increases in viewership. Including second round action, only 13 of 44 games have had increases.
Of those 13 games, only two did not involve the Heat, Lakers and/or Thunder — Jazz/Spurs Game 1 on April 29 (+13%) and Clippers/Spurs Game 1 on Tuesday (+4%).
Ratings/Viewership For 2012 NBA Playoffs on ABC
| Date | Time | Game | # | Net | Rating | vs. ’11 | Viewers (000) | vs. ’11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., 4/28/12 | 3:30 PM | Knicks/Heat |
1
|
ABC |
3.1
|
+3%
|
4,752
|
+5%
|
| Sun., 4/29/12 | 3:30 PM | Nuggets/Lakers |
1
|
ABC |
3.3
|
-11%
|
4,882
|
-18%
|
| Sun., 5/6/12 | 1:00 PM | Bulls/Sixers |
4
|
ABC |
2.8
|
-10%
|
4,224
|
-16%
|
| Sun., 5/6/12 | 3:30 PM | Heat/Knicks |
4
|
ABC |
4.5
|
+7%
|
7,013
|
even
|
| Sun., 5/13/12 | 1:00 PM | Clippers/Grizzlies |
7
|
ABC |
3.2
|
+3%
|
4,663
|
-3%
|
| Sun., 5/13/12 | 3:30 PM | Pacers/Heat |
1
|
ABC |
4.4
|
-24%
|
7,016
|
-23%
|
(Sunday’s numbers from ESPN)
