The 2012 NBA Finals continues to attract big numbers on ABC.
Game 4 of the Thunder/Heat NBA Finals drew a 10.5 final rating and 17.455 million viewers on ABC Tuesday night, up 9% in ratings and 8% in viewership from Heat/Mavericks Game 4 last year (9.6, 16.126M), and up 6% and 7%, respectively, from Lakers/Celtics Game 4 in 2010 (9.9, 16.371M).
The game ranks as the highest rated and most-viewed Game 4 of the NBA Finals since Lakers/Pistons in 2004 (12.7, 20.295M).
In addition, this marks the fourth-most viewed Game 4 since the 1998-99 NBA lockout, trailing only Lakers/Pistons in ’04, Lakers/Sixers in 2001 (19.972M), and Lakers/Pacers in 2000 (18.9M).
Overall, Tuesday’s game ranks as the ninth-most viewed NBA telecast on ABC since the network resumed airing games in the 2002-03 season, and the fifth-most viewed when series-clinching games are excluded.
Two of the first four games in this series have now drawn a double-digit rating. To put that in perspective, only thirteen NBA Finals telecasts on ABC had hit double-digits prior to this year, and only three of those telecasts took place during the first four games (all during Lakers/Pistons in 2004).
Game 4 drew a 7.4 rating among adults 18-49, up 10% from last year (6.7), and up 12% from 2010 (6.6). The 7.4 demo rating is the highest for a Game 4 in the NBA Finals since Lakers/Pistons in ’04 (9.1).
Ratings/Viewership For Game 4 of the NBA Finals
Past decade
| Year | Date | Away | Home | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) | A18-49 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Tue., 6/19/12 | Thunder | Heat | ABC |
10.5
|
17,455
|
7.4
|
| 2011 | Tue., 6/7/11 | Heat | Mavs | ABC |
9.6
|
16,126
|
6.7
|
| 2010 | Thu., 6/10/10 | Lakers | Celtics | ABC |
9.9
|
16,371
|
6.6
|
| 2009 | Thu., 6/11/09 | Lakers | Magic | ABC |
9.4
|
15,957
|
6.4
|
| 2008 | Thu., 6/12/08 | Celtics | Lakers | ABC |
8.7
|
13,762
|
5.6
|
| 2007 | Thu., 6/14/07 | Spurs | Cavs | ABC |
6.5
|
9,908
|
4.0
|
| 2006 | Thu., 6/15/06 | Mavs | Heat | ABC |
7.8
|
11,561
|
4.6
|
| 2005 | Thu., 6/16/05 | Spurs | Pistons | ABC |
7.2
|
10,917
|
4.4
|
| 2004 | Sun., 6/13/04 | Lakers | Pistons | ABC |
12.7
|
20,295
|
9.1
|
| 2003 | Wed., 6/11/03 | Spurs | Nets | ABC |
6.6
|
9,659
|
4.2
|
| 2002 | Wed., 6/12/02 | Lakers | Nets | NBC |
10.8
|
16,560
|
7.3
|
(Tuesday’s numbers from ESPN; demo rating from TV By the Numbers)
