ABC scored impressive numbers for the final game of the NBA season.
Game 6 of the Warriors/Cavaliers NBA Finals earned a 13.4 final rating and 23.3 million viewers on ABC Tuesday night, up 9% in ratings and 13% in viewership from Spurs/Heat in 2013 (12.3, 20.6M) and up a tick and down 3%, respectively, from Mavericks/Heat in 2011 (13.3, 23.9M), the two most recent game sixes. Viewership peaked at 28.7 million from 11:30-11:45 PM ET.
The Warriors’ championship-clinching win earned the fifth-largest NBA audience since 1998, trailing only Game 7 of Celtics/Lakers in 2010 (28.2M), Game 7 of Spurs/Heat in 2013 (26.3M), Game 7 of Lakers/Kings in 2002 (23.8M) and the previously mentioned Mavericks/Heat Game 6 in 2011. It also drew the sixth-highest NBA rating since 1998.
Though viewership was only the highest in three years — easily the shortest multi-year high in the series — Tuesday’s 13.4 rating is the highest for a Game 6 in the NBA Finals since Lakers/Pacers in 2000 (14.7). Every game of the series was the highest rated since at least 2004.
Excluding the NFL, Game 6 ranks as the fifth-most watched sporting event of 2013. Only the three College Football Playoff games and the Duke/Wisconsin NCAA Tournament National Championship Game (28.3M) earned a larger audience.
Game 6 drew an 8.9 rating among adults 18-49, up 5% from 2013 (8.5) but down 8% from 2011 (9.7). Again excluding the NFL, the 8.9 is tied as the third-highest for any sporting event this year — matching the Sugar Bowl and trailing only the championship games of college basketball (9.1) and college football (11.0*). It also drew an 8.8 in the adults 18-34 demo.
The complete Warriors/Cavaliers series averaged an 11.6 rating and 19.9 million viewers on ABC, the highest rated NBA Finals since 2001 (12.1) and the most-watched since 1998. Additional details will be posted shortly.
* The College Football National Championship Game aired on multiple networks as part of ESPN’s Megacast. The 11.0 rating is for the ESPN telecast alone.
Most-Watched NBA Games Since 1998
| # | Year | Game | Net | Rtg. | Vwrs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010 | Celtics/Lakers NBA Finals Game 7 |
ABC | 15.6 | 28.20M |
| 2 | 2013 | Spurs/Heat NBA Finals Game 7 |
ABC | 15.3 | 26.32M |
| 3 | 2011 | Mavericks/Heat NBA Finals Game 6 |
ABC | 13.3 | 23.88M |
| 4 | 2002 | Lakers/Kings West Final Game 7 |
NBC | 14.4 | 23.80M |
| 5 | 2015 | Warriors/Cavaliers NBA Finals Game 6 |
ABC | 13.4 | 23.25M |
| 6 | 2000 | Pacers/Lakers NBA Finals Game 6 |
NBC | 14.7 | 22.40M |
| 7 | 2004 | Lakers/Pistons NBA Finals Game 5 |
ABC | 13.8 | 21.84M |
| 8 | 2015 | Cavaliers/Warriors NBA Finals Game 5 |
ABC | 11.8 | 20.86M |
| 9 | 2013 | Spurs/Heat NBA Finals Game 6 |
ABC | 12.3 | 20.64M |
| 10 | 2004 | Lakers/Pistons NBA Finals Game 4 |
ABC | 12.7 | 20.30M |
(Tue. numbers from ESPN Media Zone)
