The crumbling Cavaliers latest embarrassment did not hurt ABC’s NBA ratings.
Rockets-Cavaliers scored a 1.8 rating and 3.0 million viewers on ABC’s NBA Saturday Primetime over the weekend, up a tick in ratings and 5% in viewership from last year (Cavs-Knicks: 1.7, 2.8M) but down 10% and 8% respectively from the comparable window two years ago, which aired on ESPN (Thunder-Warriors: 2.0, 3.2M).
All three NBA Saturday Primetime games this season have posted an increase over last year, though the first two posted more significant gains (and larger numbers overall).
Head-to-head, the Rockets’ 32-point rout trailed the competing NFL Honors on NBC (2.1, 3.5M). It did have a higher rating in adults 18-49 (1.0 to 0.8).
On Sunday, Lakers-Thunder scored a 1.6 and 2.5 million — up 23% in ratings and 22% in viewership from last year (Clippers-Celtics: 1.3, 2.08M) and up 23% and 28% respectively from 2016 (Clippers-Heat: 1.3, 1.98M). It was the highest rated and most-watched NBA game on Super Bowl Sunday since 2011 (Magic-Celtics: 2.3, 3.7M).
Overall, ratings and viewership have increased for six of the seven ABC windows that can be compared to last year.
In other action, ESPN drew a 1.2 (+71%) and 1.8 million (+56%) for Warriors-Kings Friday night. Heat-Sixers had a 0.9 (flat) and 1.3 million (-12%) in the early window.
[Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily 2.5 , 2.6, Programming Insider 2.6]
