That rarest of beasts — a compelling Cavaliers-Warriors NBA Finals game — had a surprising dip in the metered markets.
Thursday’s Cavaliers-Warriors NBA Finals Game 1 earned a 12.3 overnight rating on ABC, down a tick from last year (12.4), down 6% from 2016 (13.1), and the lowest for the NBA Finals opener since Heat-Spurs in 2014 — the last time the event did not feature Cavs-Warriors (10.4).
Golden State’s overtime win, which Cleveland could have won in regulation if not for an all-time blunder by J.R. Smith, peaked at a 14.9. The two previous finals openers, which Golden State won by double-digits, peaked at a 13.9 and 14.8.
Compared to the first Cavaliers-Warriors finals game in 2015, which also went to overtime, the full game declined 5% (from 12.9) while the peak quarter-hour declined 4% (from 15.6).
Despite the decline, the 12.3 overnight is still the fourth-highest for Game 1 of the finals since 2002 on NBC (Nets-Lakers: 13.0). The top four are all Cavaliers-Warriors games.
Given the slight decline in the overnights, Game 1 could still end up with an increase in the final nationals.
Cleveland led all markets with a 36.1 rating, up 8% from last year (33.4) and up a tick from 2016 (36.0). The Bay Area turned in a 31.1, up 1% from last year (30.9) but down 5% from 2016 (32.8). Compared to the teams’ last OT Game 1 in 2015, Cleveland declined 13% (from 41.4) and the Bay Area increased 25% (from 28.8).
