Considering that last year’s games involved the Lakers, Knicks and Celtics, ABC managed to hold up well on the first weekend of the NBA Playoffs.
Game 1 of the Bobcats/Heat first round NBA playoff series earned a 4.0 overnight rating on ABC Sunday afternoon, down 15% from Lakers/Spurs Game 1 last year (4.6), but up a tick from Nuggets/Lakers Game 1 in 2012 (3.9). The last time the Lakers did not play in ABC’s Sunday afternoon window on the opening weekend of the playoffs was 2005, when Nets/Heat Game 1 earned a 3.6 overnight.
Sunday’s 4.0 overnight is tied as the third-highest for a first round opener on ABC since 2003 (21 telecasts). Only Lakers/Spurs last year, Hornets/Lakers in 2011 (4.6) and Thunder/Lakers in 2010 (4.1) earned a higher overnight.
On Saturday, Warriors/Clippers Game 1 earned a 3.5 overnight on ABC — down 5% from both Celtics/Knicks Game 1 last year and Knicks/Heat Game 1 in 2012 (3.7 both years). The 3.5 overnight is ABC’s lowest overnight on the first weekend of the playoffs since Bulls/Cavaliers in 2010 (3.3).
The two ABC games earned the highest overnights of the weekend for any sporting event on broadcast or cable.
(Weekend overnights from Sports Business Daily)
