Ratings and viewership for the NBA Playoffs on ABC fell double-digits from last year’s multi-year high.
Coverage of the 2012 NBA Playoffs on ABC averaged a 3.7 rating and 5.616 million viewers, down 12% in ratings and 17% in viewership from last year (4.2, 6.754M), but up 9% and 7%, respectively, from 2010 (3.4, 5.258M).
Part of the decline can be attributed to the lockout-adjusted schedule. ABC missed out entirely on the high-profile Thunder/Lakers series, as the only weekend game aired at 10:30 PM ET on a Saturday night as the second-half of a back-to-back.
ABC completed its early round schedule on a mixed note Saturday night. Game 7 of the Sixers/Celtics second round series drew a 4.5 final rating and 7.012 million viewers, up 2% in ratings but down 2% in viewership from Grizzlies/Thunder Game 7 on a Sunday afternoon last year (4.4, 7.141M), and flat in both measures compared to Celtics/Magic Game 1 on a Sunday in 2010 (4.5, 7.030M).
The game ranks as the least-viewed second round Game 7 on ABC (five telecasts). Of course, those previous Game 7s aired on a Sunday afternoon as opposed to a Saturday night.
Ratings/Viewership For 2012 NBA Playoffs on ABC
Entering the NBA Finals
| Date | Time | Game | # | Net | Rating | vs. ?11 | Viewers (000) | vs. ?11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., 4/28/12 | 3:30 PM | Knicks/Heat |
1
|
ABC |
3.1
|
+3%
|
4,752
|
+5%
|
| Sun., 4/29/12 | 3:30 PM | Nuggets/Lakers |
1
|
ABC |
3.3
|
-11%
|
4,882
|
-18%
|
| Sun., 5/6/12 | 1:00 PM | Bulls/Sixers |
4
|
ABC |
2.8
|
-10%
|
4,224
|
-16%
|
| 3:30 PM | Heat/Knicks |
4
|
ABC |
4.5
|
+7%
|
7,013
|
even
|
|
| Sun., 5/13/12 | 1:00 PM | Clippers/Grizzlies |
7
|
ABC |
3.2
|
+3%
|
4,663
|
-3%
|
| 3:30 PM | Pacers/Heat |
1
|
ABC |
4.4
|
-24%
|
7,016
|
-23%
|
|
| Sat., 5/19/12 | 3:30 PM | Spurs/Clippers |
3
|
ABC |
2.3
|
-4%
|
3,182
|
-13%
|
| Sun., 5/20/12 | 3:30 PM | Heat/Pacers |
4
|
ABC |
4.8
|
-9%
|
7,625
|
-14%
|
| Sat., 5/26/12 | 8:00 PM | Sixers/Celtics |
7
|
ABC |
4.5
|
+2%
|
7,012
|
-2%
|
(Averages from ESPN; Saturday’s numbers from Media Life Magazine)
