The shortest NBA Finals in three years was not surprisingly down from both last year and 2010.
The five-game Heat/Thunder 2012 NBA Finals averaged a 10.1 rating and 16.855 million viewers on ABC, down a tick in ratings and 3% in viewership from last year’s six-game Mavericks/Heat series (10.2, 17.339M), and down 5% and 7%, respectively, from the seven-game Lakers/Celtics series in 2010 (10.6, 18.144M).
With that said, the series ranks as the highest rated and most-viewed NBA Finals on ABC through five games since Lakers/Pistons in 2004 (11.5, 17.942M). Last year’s NBA Finals averaged a 9.6 rating and 16.084 million viewers through five games, and the 2010 series averaged a 9.6 and 16.2 million.
Overall, the Heat/Thunder series ranks as the fourth-most viewed NBA Finals on ABC since the network resumed airing games in the 2002-03 season, and the second-most viewed through five games.
This is the third straight year that the NBA Finals has averaged a double-digit rating — no small feat considering that six of the previous seven series averaged single-digits.
Among adults 18-49, the NBA Finals averaged a 7.1 rating — even with last year’s six-game average (7.1), and down 3% from the seven-game average in 2010 (7.3). The 7.1 is up 8% from last year’s five-game average (6.6), and up 9% from the five-game average in 2010 (6.5).
The NBA Finals averaged a higher rating in the adults 18-49 demo than any television program during the entire 2011-12 television season except for ‘Sunday Night Football’ on NBC (8.0). For some perspective, the FOX reality show ‘American Idol’ averaged a 6.2 rating in the demo during the TV season.
Compared to other sports, the NBA Finals just edged the 2010 Cardinals/Rangers World Series (10.0, 16.6M). Of course, the World Series lasted seven games. The five-game average for the World Series was an 8.3 and 14.3 million.
The NBA Finals also outdrew the five-game Bowl Championship Series on ESPN (8.4, 14.080M). Average ratings/viewership for the 2012 NCAA Tournament ‘Final Four’ were not available.
Local ratings for the NBA Finals, including averages in Seattle and Cleveland, can be found here.
Average Ratings/Viewership For the NBA Finals
Past decade
|
Year
|
Winner | Loser | # of Gms |
Net
|
Rating
|
Viewers (000)
|
A18-49
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Heat | Thunder |
5
|
ABC |
10.1
|
16,855
|
7.1
|
|
2011
|
Mavs | Heat |
6
|
ABC |
10.2
|
17,339
|
7.1
|
|
2010
|
Lakers | Celtics |
7
|
ABC |
10.6
|
18,144
|
7.3
|
|
2009
|
Lakers | Magic |
5
|
ABC |
8.4
|
14,347
|
5.9
|
|
2008
|
Celtics | Lakers |
6
|
ABC |
9.3
|
14,941
|
6.1
|
|
2007
|
Spurs | Cavs |
4
|
ABC |
6.2
|
9,289
|
3.7
|
|
2006
|
Heat | Mavs |
6
|
ABC |
8.5
|
12,972
|
5.3
|
|
2005
|
Spurs | Pistons |
7
|
ABC |
8.2
|
12,544
|
5.1
|
|
2004
|
Pistons | Lakers |
5
|
ABC |
11.5
|
17,942
|
7.9
|
|
2003
|
Spurs | Nets |
6
|
ABC |
6.5
|
9,864
|
4.1
|
|
2002
|
Lakers | Nets |
4
|
NBC |
10.2
|
15,678
|
6.7
|
(Series averages from ESPN Media Zone, ABC Media Net; TV season averages from deadline.com)
