No better way to bounce back from a record-low regular season than with the most-watched team in basketball.
Sunday’s Blazers-Warriors NBA Playoffs Game 1 earned a 3.7 final rating and 6.5 million viewers on ABC, up 9% in ratings and 22% in viewership from Pistons-Cavaliers last year (3.4, 5.4M), up 6% and 21% respectively from Celtics-Cavaliers in 2015 (3.5, 5.4M).
Golden State’s win, which peaked with 9.1 million viewers from 5:45-6 PM ET, was the most-watched game on the opening weekend of the playoffs since Blazers-Lakers on NBC in 2002 (8.4M). The previous high was 6.2 million for Lakers-T’Wolves on ABC in 2003.
It also tied the highest opening weekend rating since Lakers-T’Wolves in ’03 (4.1), matching N.O. Hornets-Lakers in 2011.
Figures do not include the 105,000 who streamed coverage on WatchESPN. With those viewers added to the mix, the game had 6.6 million.
On Saturday, Pacers-Cavaliers Game 1 had a 2.5 and 4.0 million — down 19% in ratings and 15% in viewership from Rockets-Warriors last year (3.1, 4.8M) but up 9% and 16% respectively from Pelicans-Warriors in 2015 (2.3, 3.5M).
It was ABC’s least-watched playoff game involving LeBron James since Bulls-Cavaliers Game 1 in the same window seven years ago (3.7M), with the caveat that James’ teams have only played in the opening Saturday window two other times over that span (2011 and 2012).
(Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 4.18, ESPN Media Zone 4.18)
