A Cavaliers-heavy schedule has helped ABC avoid the broader trend of declines afflicting the NBA Playoffs.
Game 4 of the Cavaliers/Bulls NBA playoff series drew a 4.4 final rating and 6.9 million viewers on ABC last Sunday, up 16% in ratings and viewership from Thunder/Clippers last year (3.8, 6.0M) and up 29% and 30%, respectively, from Spurs/Warriors in 2013 (3.4, 5.3M).
The Cavaliers’ buzzer-beating win ranks as the highest rated and most-watched first or second playoff game on ABC since 2012 — when Sixers/Celtics Game 7 drew a 4.5 and 7.0 million. It also ranks as the most-watched game of the playoffs on any network (61 telecasts through Wednesday). The Cavaliers/Bulls series accounts for three of the four most-watched games.
Eight of the Cavaliers’ nine playoff games have had increases in viewership, not including Thursday’s Cavaliers/Bulls Game 6. Only six of 52 non-Cavaliers games have increased. By virtue of its Cavaliers-heavy schedule, ABC has had increases for four of its eight games (including Clippers/Spurs Game 4) — compared to 10 of 53 on the other networks.
In other action last weekend, ABC drew a 3.1 and 4.9 million for Game 3 of the Warriors/Grizzlies series — down 11% in ratings and 12% in viewership from Heat/Nets last year (3.5, 5.6M) and down 11% and 8%, respectively, from Knicks/Pacers in 2013 (3.5, 5.3M).
The Grizzlies’ win tied the lowest primetime NBA rating on broadcast since Heat/Wizards Game 4 in 2005 (3.0), and attracted the smallest such audience since Celtics/Cavaliers Game 3 in 2008 (4.7M).
(Wknd. numbers from ESPN)
