For one final week, the NBA dominated cable.
The five NBA games televised last week were the five most viewed programs on cable. Two weeks ago, NBA games took up the top six spots, and three weeks ago, games took up the top seven spots. During the past three weeks, NBA games have made up 18 of the 26 most watched shows on cable.
This week’s least watched NBA game (Celtics/Pistons Game 4 on Memorial Day) still finished 15% ahead of the next most watched program on cable, the debut of In Plain Sight on USA.
The top spot this week was held by Game 4 of the Lakers/Spurs West Final, which drew 7.3 million viewers on TNT last Tuesday. Game 5 of the series finished in second place, as the Lakers’ clinching victory averaged 6.8 million viewers on Thursday night.
While TNT finished with the top two programs, ESPN won the week on cable for the first time this year.
ESPN aired the third, fourth and fifth most watched programs of the week — Games 4, 5 and 6 of the East Finals. Games 5 and 6 both averaged 6.4 million viewers, with Game 4 drawing 6.1 on Memorial Day. Overall, the Eastern Conference Finals were the most viewed ever on ESPN, averaging 6.0 million viewers.
The 2008 NBA Playoffs were the most viewed ever on ESPN, with the network averaging 4.1 million viewers, up 44% from last year. For the first time in this television contract, ESPN finished ahead of TNT in total viewers.
Highest average ratings for NBA Conference Finals on cable.
since 2003; all ratings are cable ratings.
6.3: Lakers 4, Timberwolves 2 (TNT, 2004)
5.0: Pistons 4, Heat 3 (TNT, 2005)
4.8: Lakers 4, Spurs 1 (TNT, 2008)
4.8: Heat 4, Pistons 2 (ESPN, 2006 — five games)
4.7: Celtics 4, Pistons 2 (ESPN, 2008 — five games)
