Though the final numbers were not as strong as the overnights indicated, last weekend’s Game 7 of the Rockets/Clippers series did well enough for ABC.
Game 7 of the Clippers/Rockets NBA playoff series drew a 4.4 final rating and 6.9 million viewers on ABC last Sunday, down 10% in ratings and 12% in viewership from Heat/Pacers Game 1 last year (4.9, 7.8M) but up 42% and 45%, respectively, from Grizzlies/Spurs Game 1 in 2013 (3.1, 4.9M).
Compared to the last second round Game 7 on ABC, Sixers/Celtics on a Saturday night in 2012, ratings and viewership declined by 2% and 1%, respectively, from a 4.5 and 7.0 million.
The Rockets’ win earned the second-largest audience of the postseason on any network (69 telecasts through Thursday), trailing only Cavaliers/Bulls Game 4 on ABC the previous week (6.93M to 6.91M). With that said, it was also the least-watched Game 7 in the second round or later in seven years — since Spurs/Hornets on TNT in 2008 (6.5M). Every other Game 7 over that span topped the seven million mark.
Sunday’s game was the last NBA telecast on ABC before the NBA Finals. Six of the network’s nine telecasts had a decline in ratings and five had a decline in viewership. Only one non-Cavaliers telecast on ABC had an increase in either measure — Game 4 of Clippers/Spurs in the first round, which had a 1% increase in viewership.
Ratings/Viewership For 2015 NBA Playoffs on ABC
| Date | Time | Game | Rtg. | Vwrs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., 4/18 | 3:30 PM | Pelicans/Warriors First Round Game 1 |
2.3 -18% |
3.493M -20% |
| Sun., 4/19 | 3:00 PM | Celtics/Cavaliers First Round Game 1 |
3.5 +6% |
5.398M +1% |
| Sun., 4/26 | 1:00 PM | Cavaliers/Celtics First Round Game 4 |
3.2 +10% |
4.902M +13% |
| 3:30 PM | Clippers/Spurs First Round Game 4 |
4.1 -2% |
6.514M +1% |
|
| Sun., 5/3 | 1:00 PM | Wizards/Hawks Semifinals Game 1 |
2.1 -32% |
3.048M -36% |
| 3:30 PM | Grizzlies/Warriors Semifinals Game 1 |
3.0 -29% |
4.725M -27% |
|
| Sat., 5/9 | 8:15 PM | Warriors/Grizzlies Semifinals Game 3 |
3.1 -11% |
4.918M -12% |
| Sun., 5/10 | 3:30 PM | Cavaliers/Bulls Semifinals Game 4 |
4.4 +16% |
6.934M +16% |
| Sun., 5/17 | 3:30 PM | Clippers/Rockets Semifinals Game 7 |
4.4 -10% |
6.911M -12% |
(Game 7 numbers via Sports Business Daily)
