Despite the first decline of the series in Game 4, the Spurs/Heat NBA Finals is still trending ahead of last year — at least for now.
Game 4 of the Spurs/Heat NBA Finals earned a 9.3 final rating and nearly 15.0 million viewers on ABC Thursday night, down 7% in ratings and 8% in viewership from the same match-up last year (10.0, 16.2M) and down 11% and 14%, respectively, from Thunder/Heat in 2012 (10.5, 17.5M).
Thursday’s game ranks as the lowest rated and least-viewed Game 4 of the NBA Finals since 2008, when Celtics/Lakers drew an 8.7 and 13.8 million. Even Lakers/Magic in 2009 had a better Game 4 performance (9.4, 16.0M).
ABC has now aired the NBA Finals for as many years as predecessor NBC. NBC’s lowest Game 4 rating — a 10.8 for Lakers/Nets in 2002 — has been exceeded only once on ABC, by Lakers/Pistons in 2004 (12.7). Only three times in twelve series has Game 4 of the NBA Finals hit double-digits on ABC.
Game 4 had a 6.0 rating among adults 18-49, down 10% from last year (6.7) and down 19% from 2012 (7.4). It had a 5.8 among adults 18-34, down 11% from last year (6.5) and down 26% from 2012 (7.8).
Through four games, the Spurs/Heat series has averaged a 9.1 rating, 14.9 million viewers and a 6.0 among adults 18-49 — up a tick in ratings, 1% in viewership, and flat in the demo compared to last year (9.0, 14.8M, 6.0 A18-49). Keep in mind that last year’s series was boosted by Games 6 and 7, averaging a 10.5 rating, 17.7 million viewers and a 7.1 in the demo for the full seven.
Barring a similar boost this year, the Spurs/Heat series seems destined to finish as the lowest rated and least-viewed in five years and one of the ten lowest rated NBA Finals since at least 1976.
(Thu. numbers from ESPN Media Zone, ABC Media Net)
