The Cavaliers’ struggles may end up putting a damper on NBA playoff ratings, but they are a boon for the time being.
Sunday’s Cavaliers-Pacers NBA Playoffs Game 4 delivered a 4.5 overnight rating on TNT, up 55% from last year (Clippers-Jazz: 2.9), up 32% from 2016 (Cavs-Pistons: 3.2), and the highest for a second weekend playoff game on cable since 2011 (Lakers-Hornets: 4.6).
Overnights increased 25% from last year’s Game 4 between the same teams, which aired in the early afternoon on ABC (3.6).
Cleveland’s narrow win, in which they avoided a 3-1 series deficit, was the highest rated sporting event of the weekend in the metered markets.
Ranking second, ABC’s Warriors-Spurs Game 4 had a 4.3 earlier in the day — down 4% from last year (Rockets-Thunder: 4.5) and down 19% from 2016 (Warriors-Rockets: 5.3). The 4.3 is tied as the lowest in the window on the second weekend of the playoffs since 2005 (Heat-Nets: 3.4).
ABC also earned a 3.2 for Celtics-Bucks earlier in the day, down 11% from last year (Cavs-Pacers: 3.6) but up 19% from 2016 (Spurs-Grizzlies: 2.7).
In other action, Friday’s Cavaliers-Pacers Game 3 had a 1.95 rating and 3.1 million viewers, up 23% in ratings and 22% in viewership from last year (Celtics-Bulls: 1.6, 2.5M) and up 13% and 15% respectively from 2016 (Cavs-Pistons: 1.7, 2.7M).
Celtics-Bucks had a 1.7 (-23%) and 2.6 million (-25%) later in the night, while Raptors-Wizards chipped in a 0.41 (-32%) and 628,000 (-37%) on ESPN2.
[Wknd. numbers from Sports Business Daily 4.23, Programming Insider 4.23]
