The start of the NBA Playoffs gave ABC a significant boost, as playoff games on Saturday and Sunday finished as the highest rated sporting events of the weekend.
ABC averaged a 3.4 rating for Suns/Spurs and Nuggets/Lakers, up 31% from a 2.6 for the comparable Heat/Bulls and Lakers/Suns games last year.
The double overtime Suns/Spurs Game 1 averaged a 3.2/8 on Saturday afternoon, up 45% from a 2.2 for Heat/Bulls last year. The 3.2 rating is easily the highest ABC has drawn for a game on the first day of the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Nuggets/Lakers the next day drew a 3.5/8, up 17% from a 3.0 for Lakers/Suns in ’07. The 3.5 rating is the highest for an opening weekend playoff game since Lakers/Timberwolves drew a 4.1 in 2003.
Ratings for opening weekend NBA Playoff games on network TV.
2008
3.2/8: Suns/Spurs Game 1 (Sat., 4/19, 3 PM ABC)
3.5/8: Nuggets Lakers Game 1 (Sun., 4/20, 3 PM ABC)
2007
2.2/6: Heat/Bulls Game 1 (Sat., 4/21, 3 PM ABC)
3.0/8: Lakers/Suns Game 1 (Sun., 4/22, 3 PM ABC)
2006
2.4/6: Wizards/Cavaliers Game 1 (Sat., 4/22, 3 PM ABC)
3.4/8: Lakers/Suns Game 1 (Sun., 4/23, 3 PM ABC)
2005
2.1/5: 76ers/Pistons Game 1 (Sat., 4/23, 3 PM ABC)
3.1/6: Nets/Heat Game 1 (Sun., 4/24, 3 PM ABC)
2004
3.0/8: Mavericks/Kings Game 1 (Sun., 4/18, 3:30 PM ABC)
2003
4.1/12: Lakers/Timberwolves Game 1 (Sun., 4/20, 3:30 PM ABC)
2002
2.4/7: Pacers/Nets Game 1 (Sat., 4/20, 12:30 PM NBC)
3.2/9: Jazz/Kings Game 1 (Sat., 4/20, 3 PM NBC)
3.6/9: Sonics/Spurs Game 1 (Sat., 4/20, 5:30 PM NBC)
3.6/10: 76ers/Celtics Game 1 (Sun., 4/21, 12:30 PM NBC)
4.3/10: Timberwolves/Mavericks Game 1 (Sun., 4/22, 3 PM NBC)
5.9/11: Trail Blazers/Lakers Game 1 (Sun., 4/22, 5:30 PM NBC)
