ABC hit an eight-year high in overnight ratings for Sunday’s Game 4 between the Heat and Knicks.
Game 4 of the Heat/Knicks first round NBA playoff series drew a 5.3 overnight rating on ABC Sunday afternoon, up 6% from Celtics/Knicks Game 4 last year (5.0), and up 15% from Cavaliers/Bulls Game 4 in 2010 (4.6).
The 5.3 overnight is the highest for a first round playoff game on ABC since Lakers/Rockets Game 4 in 2004 (5.8).
Overall, the game is tied as ABC’s third-highest rated first round game in the metered markets, behind only Lakers/Rockets in 2004 and Trail Blazers/Mavericks Game 7 in 2003 (6.1).
The last time the Heat and Knicks faced each other in the NBA Playoffs (2000), Game 4 of their second round series drew a 5.6 overnight rating on NBC.
Locally, Game 4 drew a 17.4 rating in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale and an 8.9 in New York City — the highest on record for a first round game on any network in both markets.
Earlier Sunday, Game 4 of the Bulls/Sixers series drew a 3.5 overnight rating, down 13% from Heat/Sixers Game 4 last year (4.0), but up 13% from Celtics/Heat Game 4 in 2010 (3.1).
Highest Overnight Ratings For First Round NBA Playoff Games on ABC
Since the network resumed airing games in the 2002-03 season
(Sunday’s numbers from ESPN)
