A fairly weak NBA season ended on a more positive note for ABC.
The Bulls/Cavaliers NBA regular season game earned a 3.4 overnight rating on ABC Sunday afternoon, up 42% from Lakers/Clippers last year (2.4) but down 6% from Lakers/Clippers in 2013 (3.6). The 41% increase is the highest of the season for an NBA game on ABC, topping the previous high of 13% for Lakers/Cavaliers in February.
Excluding Christmas, the 3.4 overnight is tied as the second-highest of the season on ABC — matching Thunder/Cavaliers in January and trailing only Cavaliers/Rockets in March (3.7).
Bulls/Cavaliers was the top non-NCAA Tournament sporting event of the weekend in the metered markets.
Earlier in the day, Rockets/Thunder drew a 2.5 overnight — even with Knicks/Heat last year (2.5) and down 11% from Knicks/Thunder in 2013 (2.8). The 2.5 is the highest of the season for a non-Cavaliers game on ABC, again excluding Christmas.
(Wknd. overnights via Sports Business Daily)
