The start of the Lakers’ presumably short playoff run gave ABC a boost last Sunday.
Game 1 of the Lakers/Spurs first round NBA playoff series drew a 3.6 final rating and 5.5 million viewers on ABC last Sunday, up 9% in ratings and 13% in viewership from Nuggets/Lakers Game 1 last year (3.3, 4.9M), but down 3% and 7%, respectively, from Hornets/Lakers Game 1 in 2011 (3.7, 6.0M).
The Lakers/Spurs opener earned the third-largest audience for an opening weekend playoff game on ABC since the network resumed airing games in the 2002-03 season. Only Hornets/Lakers Game 1 in ’11 and Lakers/Timberwolves Game 1 in 2003 (6.3M) drew more viewers.
In addition, the game ranked as the most-viewed of the playoffs on any network through Thursday’s games. The second-largest audience was 4.9 million viewers for Bucks/Heat Game 1 on TNT.
On Saturday, ABC drew a 2.9 and 4.4 million viewers for Celtics/Knicks Game 1 — down 6% in ratings and 7% in viewership from Knicks/Heat Game 1 last year (3.1, 4.8M), and down 3% in both measures from Sixers/Heat Game 1 in 2011 (3.0, 4.6M).
Most-Viewed Games of the 2013 NBA Playoffs
Through Thursday
|
#
|
Date | Away | Home | Gm. # | Net | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
Sun., 4/21/13 | Lakers | Spurs |
1
|
ABC |
5.5M
|
|
2
|
Sun., 4/21/13 | Bucks | Heat |
1
|
TNT |
4.9M
|
|
3
|
Sat., 4/20/13 | Celtics | Knicks |
1
|
ABC |
4.4M
|
|
4
|
Wed., 4/24/13 | Lakers | Spurs |
2
|
TNT |
4.3M
|
|
5
|
Sun., 4/21/13 | Rockets | Thunder |
1
|
TNT |
4.3M
|
(Weekend numbers from Sports Business Daily)
