LeBron James‘ return to Miami was a good television draw on ABC.
The Cavaliers/Heat NBA Christmas Day game drew a 5.5 overnight rating on ABC, up 12% from Heat/Lakers last year (4.9) but down 8% from Thunder/Heat in 2012 (6.0). The 5.5 is the third-highest for a non-Lakers Christmas game on any network since the current TV deal began, trailing Thunder/Heat in 2012 and Heat/Mavericks in 2011 (5.6).
Miami’s win earned a higher overnight than James’ return to Cleveland with the Heat in 2010, a non-holiday game that aired on cable network TNT (5.0). Locally, it earned a 17.2 rating in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, the highest on record for an NBA regular season game in the market.
Earlier in the day, Thunder/Spurs drew a 4.0 overnight — up 8% from Thunder/Knicks last year (3.7) but down 32% from Knicks/Lakers in 2012 (5.9). The 4.0 is the second-lowest for a Christmas game on ABC since 2009, ahead of last year.
ESPN earned a 2.1 overnight its Christmas Day game between the Wizards and Knicks, down 9% from Bulls/Nets last year (2.3), down 22% from Celtics/Nets in 2012 (2.7), and the lowest overnight in the timeslot since Heat/Knicks in 2009 (2.0).
Overnights were not available for the two Christmas night games on TNT.
(Thu. numbers from ESPN Media Zone)
