With the Warriors taking center stage on ESPN, ABC’s NBA Saturday Primetime finale took a backseat in the metered markets.
Cavaliers/Bulls had a 1.6 overnight rating on ABC’s NBA Saturday Primetime, tied as the network’s third-lowest NBA overnight in the past five years — matching Clippers/Heat on Super Bowl Sunday ahead of only Rockets/Bulls in March and Rockets/Wizards last year (1.4 for each). Four of ABC’s five lowest overnights over that span have taken place this season.
The 1.6 is the lowest ever for an NBA game involving LeBron James on broadcast television. The previous mark was a 1.9 for regional action featuring Lakers/Cavaliers in 2006, which aired opposite the NCAA Tournament.
The numbers come with a caveat. ESPN aired Warriors/Grizzlies at the same time, which earned a 1.7 overnight despite being blacked out in the Bay Area market (the game aired locally on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area).
The Warriors’ 71st win of the season was clearly the featured game of the night, receiving more promotion on ESPN networks during the week and featuring the network’s top NBA broadcast team of Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson.
(Sat. numbers from ESPN)
